Strengthening legal and judicial cooperation between Vietnam and Laos

(Chinhphu.vn) - The signing of the Cooperation Agreement for the 2026-2030 period by the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and the Lao Ministry of Justice will continue to create a turning point in the Vietnam-Laos legal and judicial cooperation relationship, making the legal and judicial cooperation relationship increasingly effective, in-depth, substantive and practical for both sides.

In the presence of General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Vietnamese Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh and Lao Minister of Justice Phayvy Siboualypha exchanged the cooperation agreement - Photo: Ministry of Justice

At the invitation of General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife, General Secretary To Lam, his wife and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation paid a state visit to Laos to attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Day of the Lao PDR from December 1-2, 2025.

Within the framework of the State visit to Laos and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Day of the Lao PDR by General Secretary To Lam, his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, on the morning of December 1, in the presence of General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Vietnamese Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh and Lao Minister of Justice Phayvy Siboualypha presented a Cooperation Agreement. This is a Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of the Lao PDR on law and justice for the period 2026-2030.

The agreement on legal and judicial cooperation for the 2026-2030 period was built by the two sides on the basis of inheriting the contents of the Cooperation Agreement for the 2021-2025 period and with some amendments and supplements to suit the practical situation, cooperation needs and capabilities of the two sides in the current period.

According to this Cooperation Agreement, in the period of 2026-2030, the two Ministries of Justice will focus on cooperation in the following areas: Exchange of experience in building, perfecting laws and organizing law enforcement; exchange of experience in building a rule-of-law state; exchange of experience in the legal field; enforcement of civil judgments; judicial administration; dissemination and education of law; legal aid; registration of security measures; state compensation; international law; arbitration; mediation;

Exchange experiences in applying information technology, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in law making and enforcement; improve the qualifications and capacity of officials of agencies, units and legal and judicial training institutions of the two sides; promote training, research on law and judicial titles, foster judicial expertise and skills; promote effective implementation of the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao PDR signed on January 11, 2023, including enhancing the capacity to effectively implement requests for mutual legal assistance in civil matters between the two countries;

At the same time, effectively and on schedule implement the technical assistance project of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the Ministry of Justice of the Lao PDR on improving the legal capacity of Lao Justice Ministry officials; cooperate and coordinate activities at regional and multilateral organizations and forums on legal and judicial cooperation; promote and support cooperation between localities in border areas as well as other localities of the two countries.

The two sides also agreed to implement cooperation activities in various forms such as: Exchange of delegations at the Ministerial level once a year, rotating in Vietnam and Laos; exchange of delegations at the Deputy Ministerial level, Department level, officers and legal experts. Specific contents related to the exchange of delegations (name, composition, time...) will be agreed by the Parties in the annual Cooperation Program between the two Ministries of Justice;

In addition, maintain the organization of the Judicial Conference of provinces sharing the extended Vietnam-Laos border, co-chaired by the Ministers of Justice of both sides every 2 years, alternating in Vietnam and Laos; The Ministry of Justice of Vietnam receives officials of the Ministry of Justice of Laos to Vietnam to attend training programs and short-term training courses to improve capacity and professional qualifications. Specific contents related to training programs and training courses (content, composition, time, cost, etc.) will be agreed upon by the Parties in the annual Cooperation Program between the two Ministries of Justice;

Coordinate the implementation and deployment of cooperation projects in the legal and judicial fields using non-refundable aid from the Vietnamese Government for the Lao Ministry of Justice; coordinate the implementation of joint legal scientific research on areas of mutual interest to both Parties; exchange legal documents, materials and legal publications that have been officially published in accordance with the laws of each Party; increase the organization of conferences, seminars, talks and training courses online or in person.

The cooperation agreement also clearly states that the Ministries of Justice of the two countries will encourage and facilitate the signing and implementation of cooperation agreements between local legal and judicial agencies of Vietnam and Laos; between Hanoi Law University, the Judicial Academy (under the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam) and the Lao National Judicial Academy (under the Ministry of Justice of Laos).

The signing of the Cooperation Agreement for the 2026-2030 period by the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Laos will continue to create a turning point in the Vietnam-Laos legal and judicial cooperation relationship, inheriting the cooperation achievements from previous stages in implementing cooperation activities in the legal and judicial fields between the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Laos, making them increasingly effective, in-depth, substantial and practical for both sides.

The successful implementation of the Cooperation Agreement in the legal and judicial fields will contribute to further tightening the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

Dieu Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tang-cuong-hop-tac-phap-luat-va-tu-phap-viet-nam-lao-102251201145814837.htm