Điều ước quốc tế Khongso

MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION

BETWEEN BAR FEDERATION OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC PERIOD 2012 – 2015

To strengthen and further promote legal and judicial cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, to contribute to further tightening of the special friendship, strengthen the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States and two peoples of Viet Nam and Laos;

With the desire to establish a long term partnership in the field of legal profession and its management between Viet Nam and Laos, to contribute to capacity building of legal profession and self-management of the bars of each country;

With the trust that the cooperation in the field of legal profession and its management between lawyers' organizations of the two countries will create significant premises and driving force for further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in important areas of mutual interest for lawyers in both countries;

The Bar Federation of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (hereinafter referred to as “Viet Nam Bar Federation”) and the Bar Association of Lao People's Democratic Republic (hereinafter referred to as “Lao Bar Association”, collectively referred to as “Parties” and individually as “Party”) agreed to sign and implement this Memorandum on Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as “Memorandum”) with the specific contents of cooperation as follows:

Article 1

Principle of Cooperation

In accordance with the laws and jurisdiction of each Party, the Parties shall cooperate in the management of lawyers and legal profession on the basis of mutual benefit, respect and mutual understanding under the provisions of this Memorandum.

Article 2

Areas of Cooperation

The Parties shall strengthen cooperation in the following areas:

1. Provide each other with necessary information on the current status, practice and direction for development of lawyers of each Party;

2. Exchange experience on law enforcement and lawyer practicing, management activities of the Bar Federation, Bar Associations and lawyer practicing organizations, lawyering skills, representation before the court and legal advice;

3. Exchange experience on participation in developing and improving the law, law enforcement, particularly laws relating to lawyers;

4. Support each other in other areas in accordance with the objectives and directions of cooperation of mutual interest.

Article 3

Forms of Cooperation

1. Exchange information via emails or official documents, dispatches on the contents referred to in Paragraph 1 of Article 2 above upon either Party’s needs;

2. Exchange study missions, explore and learn experience about the specific contents of mutual interest;

3. Coordinate in organizing or participate in workshops, seminars organized by either Party on the topics and contents of mutual interest;

4. Jointly organize professional training courses or support each other to foster legal profession skills to enhance professional capabilities, legal profession ethics and the role of lawyers in the State and society;

5. Share experience and provide technical cooperation in the development of materials in professional training for lawyers;

6. Regularly exchange and update legal documents, information and materials as required and in accordance with the laws of the Parties;

7. Other forms of cooperation of mutual interest.

Article 4

Operational Funds

All cooperative activities in this Memorandum shall be implemented in accordance with the budget capacity of each Party, which shall be clearly stated in the annual plan agreed by the Parties in writing. Funding sources for cooperative activities can also be raised from third parties.

Article 5

Implementation of the Memorandum

1. The Parties’ focal points shall be as follows:

- The Viet Nam Bar Federation: Committee for International Cooperation;

- The Lao Bar Association: Committee for International Cooperation.

The focal points shall support the leaders of each Party in the development, implementation and evaluation of the annual cooperation program between the Parties, promotion of the exchange and search for solutions to develop and improve cooperation efficiency.

2. Unless the Parties otherwise agree, no later than 30 September each year, the Parties through written dispatches or direct meetings shall discuss and agree on the Plan of detailed cooperative activities for the next year in accordance with this Memorandum.

3. The Parties shall review the cooperative activities conducted under this Memorandum.

Article 6

Amendment and Supplementation

This Memorandum may be amended and supplemented on the basis of a written agreement between the Parties through exchange of letters via emails or other forms. The contents which the Parties have agreed to amend and supplement shall be considered an integral part of this Memorandum.

Article 7

Final Provisions

1. This Memorandum shall be valid for three (03) years from the date of signing and shall be automatically renewed every three (03) years until either Party decides to terminate as provided in paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. Each Party may terminate this Memorandum at any time by notice in writing to the other Party. Termination shall take effect six (06) months after the date of the other Party’s receipt of the notice.

3. The termination of this Memorandum shall not affect the completion of the activities that are being conducted, in accordance with the specific contents of such activities as specified in this Memorandum.

Made in Quang Binh, on the 7^th of September, 2012, in two (02) originals in each of Vietnamese, Lao and English languages of equal validity. In cases of different interpretations, the English version shall prevail.