Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc (R) has a working session with Niklaus Meier, Co-head of the Private International Law Unit at the Swiss Federal Office of Justice. (Photo: VNA) Bern (VNA) - Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc had a working session with Niklaus Meier, Co-head of the Private International Law Unit at the Swiss Federal Office of Justice on November 26, within the framework of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Switzerland.
During the working session, Ngoc highly valued the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on legal and judicial cooperation (MOU) in 2018 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), and thanked the FDJP for its practical implementation of this MoU.
He said that apart from international justice, the two ministries should expand cooperation to other areas within their functions and tasks such as civil status, nationality, international adoption, especially Switzerland's acceptance of Vietnam's accession to the Hague Convention on Taking of Evidence.
Ngoc suggested the Swiss side continue to support Vietnam in studying the experience of joining and implementing the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; implementing the UN Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958, and experience in formulating and implementing international judicial laws, and in participating in the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
He called on Switzerland to coordinate with Vietnam in implementing judicial mandates via both service convention channel and diplomatic channels, and share its experience in legal and judicial reforms because Switzerland has a developed legal and judicial system that effectively serves socio-economic development.
Meier said Switzerland is always aware of the importance of international law, including international justice, saying that in the context of deep international integration, many legal issues with foreign elements are required to be addressed.
Countries have different regulations on rights, obligations and jurisdiction, so it is necessary to have an appropriate domestic law in case there is a conflict in law and jurisdiction, he added.
Regarding the proposal on accepting Vietnam's accession to the Hague Convention on Taking of Evidence, Meier promised to report to Switzerland’s relevant authorities for early positive feedback.
For conventions under the HccH system, he stressed that Switzerland is willing to support Vietnam in its study of accession and implementation of the conventions, coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice in handling civil status, nationality, and provide legal assistance in civil matters and share experience in participating in UNCITRAL.
The FDJP pledges to mobilise the best experts in each field to support Vietnam in specific issues at the request of the Vietnamese ministry, Meier said, adding that it is willing to share information and experience with the Vietnamese side in legal and judicial reforms.
Regarding the MoU signed between the two sides in 2018, Meier said the FDJP has rarely signed a MoU with a ministry of justice of a foreign country, so Vietnam can be seen as special priority.
This MoU will expire in 2022, he said, adding that if the two sides fail to sign a new MoU due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperation between the two ministries will continue without interruption, he said./.
