New law on international treaties crucial: experts

A working session of the Vietnamese National Assembly (Source:Internet)

 The issuance of a new law on international treaties is significant to both internal and external activities of the country, especially in the current international integration period, agreed experts at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on October 7.

The event, held by the Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly Deputies Delegation, aimed to gather expert opinions on a draft revised Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties.

According to lawyer Truong Thi Hoa from Ho Chi Minh City Lawyers’ Bar, it is necessary to design complete regulations for the important law, ensuring the interest of the country.

The current Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties, which was issued in 2005, has a number of shortcomings, requiring the issuance of a new law that is more comprehensive and suitable. Its name should also be changed to Law on International Treaties to cover all relevant issues and suit international practice.

Delegates at the event also pointed to the need to strengthen the role of the National Assembly in joining international treaties.

Lawyer Pham Van Chat from the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre said that the NA should be more engaged in the verification and consideration of articles suitable to the country’s policies before commencing negotiations and signing treaties.

Sharing Chat’s opinion, Tran Hoa Phuong, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, held that the NA should empower and strengthen the role that the NA Committee for External Relations plays in the process of negotiating and signing international treaties.

Participants agreed on the proposed new name of the law as well as the explanation of relevant norms and the prompt popularisation of the law to individuals and enterprises when Vietnam joins an international treaty.

Compared to the current law, the draft bill retains 10 articles, erases 24, amends 73 and adds 20 new articles, making it nearly a brand new law.-VNA