Signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Extradition

On November 14, in Manila, the Philippines, the 13th ASEAN Justice Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM 13) officially opened. ALAWMM 13 was attended by Justice Ministers/Attorneys General of 11 ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretary General.

Representatives of countries attending the 13th ASEAN Justice Ministers' Meeting.

The interdisciplinary delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam at the Conference was attended by General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. stressed the importance of strengthening legal and judicial cooperation among ASEAN member states and proactively coordinating closely in responding to cross-border security challenges. According to the President, this is a key factor in building a secure, safe, sustainable and people-centered ASEAN Community.

At the plenary session of the Conference, Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh delivered a speech, affirming that in the context of complex changes in the world and the region, maintaining and promoting ASEAN's central role and building a self-reliant, dynamic, creative, people-centered ASEAN Community is the common goal of all member countries.

To realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, Minister Nguyen Hai Ninh proposed three priority orientations for legal and judicial cooperation in the coming time:

Firstly, enhancing the role of legal and judicial cooperation in consolidating solidarity, unity and improving the institutional effectiveness of ASEAN;

Second, building a solid legal foundation to promote intra-bloc connectivity and support socio -economic development;

Third, make legal and judicial cooperation an “institutional support” for innovation, digital transformation and application of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Minister also informed that Vietnam plans to host the ASEAN Law Forum in 2026 with the theme “Application of artificial intelligence in law-making and law enforcement in the digital age”. The forum is expected to be an opportunity for member countries to share experiences, discuss cooperation orientations, promote digital transformation in the legal and judicial fields, and meet the development requirements of the region.

Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN (1995-2025), Minister Nguyen Hai Ninh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to be an active and responsible member, closely coordinating with member countries to strengthen legal and judicial cooperation, effectively implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, towards a region of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperous development.

Within the framework of ALAWMM 13, representatives of ASEAN countries officially signed the ASEAN Agreement on Extradition among 11 member countries. After more than four years of negotiations (from 2021 to present, through 14 meetings), the Agreement was completed and signed, becoming a highlight in the 40-year journey of ASEAN legal and judicial cooperation, and marking an important step forward in strengthening intra-bloc legal cooperation.

General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, at the signing ceremony of the Agreement.

Representing Vietnam, General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, signed this important document on behalf of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The agreement creates a unified legal basis for extradition among ASEAN countries, clearly demonstrating the region's strong commitment to improving the effectiveness of the fight against transnational crime, promoting the rule of law and justice, thereby maintaining peace and stability in the region.

H.NGUYEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ky-ket-hiep-dinh-asean-ve-dan-do-post923117.html