Interview with Representative of Viet Nam in the ALAWMM showcases Great Promise for the Betterment of Viet Nam and ASEAN

In an Interview with Nhan Dan, Viet Nam’s Representative shares her prosperous, hopeful solutions in collaboration with other countries, advancing Viet Nam’s core beliefs, goals, and agendas in the realm of law

Delegate of Viet Nam proactively sharing views, solutions, and cooperation opportunities with mutual allies, seeking to improve Viet Nam’s legal state 

Q: What foreign frameworks do Vietnam support and how will it benefit the nation?

A: I personally believe in the saying that collaboration and helping allies should always be beneficial for my honourable country of Viet Nam and that is what I have done in this council. As the Representative from Vietnam, I have helped the delegate of Japan with the ARAF council, the ASEAN Arbitration Council. I have pledged my expertise and Viet Nam’s long-term experience in civil law to assist all ASEAN countries, believing in the spirit of collaboration and long-term partnership with ASEAN. 

I also support the PQRS framework, which entails a fully voluntary-based approach that supports the foundational principles of ASEAN sovereignty, which is what I, and my country Viet Nam stands for. It aligns with everything Viet Nam stands for, transparency and collaboration with countries instead of legally binding agreements, standing for advisory goals, enforcement and councils such as the previously mentioned ARAF and other frameworks. I have also received support from countries such as the Russian Federation, and the advisory solutions are the best way to address the issues we face, through collaboration and not pressuring other countries. 

Peer Review is also a solution that I support, which is based on this: Based on requests from each country, knowledge will be shared in the spirit of collaboration. Through this, I and the other delegates have been able to work together to address the issue of flaws in the judicial system, with this also being completely voluntary. 

Working groups, a non-binding output focused on regional crimes that are important like digital crime, have also been established. A unified approach to transnational crime is also important, but I emphasise that it must be voluntary and not forced. A task force has also been established, which is rotated on a yearly basis, with each ASEAN state voluntarily hosting the force, composed of their own members. 

A variety of minilateral agreements have also been formed, which are flexible agreements among states to better address judicial issues and resolve them in the spirit of collaboration. I have personally supported these, and hope that they will prove to be of great use to Vietnam and ASEAN in the future. 

With a Memorandum of understanding having been established, there are now different tiers countries can follow through with, allowing them to align with their own national interest, own information-sharing procedures, and own levels of collaboration, and that no country should be forced. 

Q: Is there anything that Vietnam contends with and what is the reason for this disagreement?

A: I disagree with certain frameworks, even though I wish to collaborate with all countries in the interests of Viet Nam, it is sometimes too hard to, as some frameworks advocate legally-binding agreements. For example, the AAEC should be opt-in only, as there must be sovereign respect for each country inclusive of vietnam, under one of the mentioned frameworks. However, the

current AAEC framework pushes for a legally-binding, unified approach. Although this may be beneficial, I hoped that we could modify it and come to a consensus. 

Another solution pushed was the KPIs, which allows for the enforcement for countries to comply, becoming a benchmark for countries to avoid responsibility. However, I believe that enforcement must be addressed in a more cautious manner and also advisory. I wish to work with the other delegates in achieving this soon, and emphasis the importance of national sovereignty. 

Q: What does Viet Nam stand for in this conference and how do you seek to make improvements to Viet Nam? 

A: I, as a representative of Viet Nam, believe that transparent arbitration and building better frameworks for ASEAN to show collaboration and efficiency is important. I wish for all countries to be able to work together and achieve this common aim. 

On inter-country collaboration, I also hope to implore all countries to agree on a certain thing, that no countries are to be forced into anything, and that we should respect national sovereignty. To showcase the collaboration and sincerity Viet Nam has, I have also tried to mediate conflicts between other delegates. 

Domestic improvements were made recently as well, and I believe that through the ASEAN or regional level, it will be beneficial to Viet Nam as well.