Workshop on “Proposals for the draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”

Over three days, from 19 to 21 June 2024, in Hanoi, the Chemical Corps – Standing Office of Vietnam's National Focal Point for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Standing Office 81) – in cooperation with the Export Control and Related Border Security Program of the US Department of State (EXBS Program) and the European Union's Export Control Programme for Dual-Use Goods (EU P2P), organised the workshop “Proposals for the draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”.

The workshop was attended by 40 delegates who are legislative experts from ministries and sectors, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the State Bank of Vietnam, as well as representatives of Vietnam's National Focal Point for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and Standing Office 81, together with international experts from the EXBS Program and EU P2P.

Figure 1. Workshop participants pose for a group photo.

This workshop was the sixth in a series of activities organised by Standing Office 81 in cooperation with its partners to improve the legal framework for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The workshop aimed to study and discuss issues serving as a basis for proposing options and solutions to address Vietnam's gaps in the control of dual-use goods and in countering proliferation financing. In his opening remarks, Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hien acknowledged the results of the studies conducted; thanked the experts of the EXBS Program and EU P2P, the Vietnamese experts and the delegates from ministries and sectors who have accompanied Standing Office 81 in researching and improving Vietnam's legal framework on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and highlighted the objectives of the workshop.

Figure 2. Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hien, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Chemical Corps and Deputy Head of Standing Office 81, delivers the opening remarks at the workshop.

At the workshop, delegates: (1) learned about the dual-use goods lists of the European Union, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines and their advantages and disadvantages, the licensing procedures for items on dual-use goods lists, and the practical experience of countries in the region in implementing export control systems for dual-use goods; and discussed the approach to developing a dual-use goods list and a licensing system for listed items suited to Vietnam's conditions; (2) studied and reviewed Vietnam's current regulations on countering proliferation financing and their conformity with international standards, and discussed how to finalise the provisions on countering proliferation financing in the draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Figure 3. Delegates discuss issues at the workshop

Figure 4. Delegates discuss issues at the workshop (continued)

On 27 March 2020, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 432/QD-TTg promulgating the Plan for implementing the Government's Decree on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, under which the Ministry of National Defence was tasked with taking the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Security, the State Bank of Vietnam and the relevant ministries, sectors and localities, in conducting a preliminary review of the implementation of the Decree and recommending the development of a law on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with a deadline of 2025. The results of the workshop provide an important basis and prerequisite for Standing Office 81 to advise the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence on preparing the dossier proposing the development of the Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Also at the workshop, delegates and experts of the EXBS Program and EU P2P held discussions to detail the activities under the 2024 cooperation programme between Standing Office 81 and its partners. Delegates from ministries and sectors and experts of the EXBS Program and EU P2P committed to continuing to support and accompany Standing Office 81 in researching and improving Vietnam's legal framework on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Nguyen Van Vuong - Centre 81