Enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation in civil judicial assistance between Vietnam and Laos

On April 6, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Decision No. 285/QD-TTg approving the plan to implement the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

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The approval aims to proactively and effectively implement the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It helps the agencies conducting proceedings to properly resolve civil cases with foreign elements; improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the field of mutual legal assistance in civil matters between the two countries; and contribute to promoting civil and commercial relations between the two countries.

According to the Decision, in the second quarter of 2024, the Ministry of Justice will preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appoint and notify focal officers to implement the Agreement.

Hội nghị Tư pháp các tỉnh có chung đường biên giới Việt Nam-Lào mở rộng lần thứ V tại tỉnh Nghệ An, tháng 8/2022. (Ảnh: Nhân Dân)

The 5th Judicial Conference of provinces sharing the expanded Vietnam-Laos border in Nghe An province, August 2022. (Photo: Nhan Dan)

In addition, the Ministry of Justice shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme People's Court to disseminate the contents of the Agreement, conduct training and fostering to unify and raise awareness of the Agreement for the staff working in judicial assistance at the Courts and Civil Judgment Enforcement Agencies. This task is carried out annually.

Regarding the implementation of judicial assistance activities, every year, the Ministry of Justice presides over and coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme People's Court to perform the following tasks: Developing forms and dossiers of judicial assistance; upgrading the database system to monitor and manage dossiers of judicial assistance requests to serve the reporting and statistical work on the implementation situation; receiving, processing and implementing requests for delegation from competent Lao authorities sent to Vietnam; receiving, processing and implementing dossiers of judicial assistance sent by competent Vietnamese authorities to Laos; receiving, coordinating the processing and implementation of requests for legal aid from citizens of the two countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Court to carry out the task of informing relevant agencies about the scope of types of papers and documents issued and confirmed by competent authorities of the two countries that are exempt from consular legalization according to Article 12 of the Agreement.

Every three years, as prescribed by the Agreement, the Ministry of Justice will preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme People's Court to assess the implementation of the Agreement.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Justice to be the focal agency, preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches and relevant agencies in organizing the implementation of this plan; report to the Prime Minister when requested.

The Prime Minister requested relevant ministries and branches to actively and proactively implement the Agreement in accordance with their functions and powers; ensure compliance with current legal provisions; ensure close coordination between competent authorities of Vietnam and between competent authorities of Vietnam and competent authorities of Laos in implementing the Agreement through the Central Agencies of the two countries.

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