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on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Standing Office 81
Notices

Targeted financial sanctions obligations and designated lists relating to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and proliferation financing

Notices

30 October 2026UN Security Council updates the sanctions list (30/10/2026)

Activities23 June 2023

Workshop on Vietnam’s legal framework for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Field: Nuclear and radiological, Dual-use goods and strategic trade Tiếng Việt

Unofficial translation from the Vietnamese original.

Continuing the series of advisory activities to improve Vietnam’s legal framework for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), on 20–21 June 2023 in Hanoi, the Chemical Corps – the Standing Office of the National Focal Point of Vietnam for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Standing Office 81) – in coordination with the Export Control and Related Border Security Program of the U.S. Department of State (EXBS Program) and the European Union’s Partner-to-Partner Export Control Programme for Dual-Use Goods in South-East Asia (EU P2P), organised a workshop on Vietnam’s legal framework for countering the proliferation of WMD. The workshop aimed to evaluate the results of the survey of Vietnam’s legal framework for countering the proliferation of WMD.

The workshop was attended by 30 delegates representing the Vietnam Chemicals Agency and the Agency of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) of the Ministry of Science and Technology; the General Department of Preventive Medicine and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health; the Department of General Affairs of Legislative Development of the Ministry of Justice; the General Department of Vietnam Customs of the Ministry of Finance; the Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Department of International Organisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the National Focal Point of Vietnam; Standing Office 81; and experts from the EXBS Program and EU P2P.

Figure 1. Delegates attending the workshop.

At the workshop, representatives of Vietnamese ministries and sectors presented the results of the survey of Vietnam’s legal system in the fields of countering the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and controlling dual-use goods related to WMD proliferation; compared and assessed Vietnam’s legal system against the obligations set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and the international treaties on countering the proliferation of WMD to which Vietnam is a party (such as the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)); and compared the provisions of Vietnam’s legal system with international standards and practices and “best practices” in the field of countering WMD proliferation.

The experts of the EXBS Program and EU P2P and the workshop delegates held frank discussions to clarify many aspects of the survey results. The survey results showed that, although there are still gaps that need to be addressed, Vietnam’s legal system basically responds well to the international obligations and requirements that Vietnam must fulfil, and provides legal instruments to ensure the safety of activities in the chemical and biological fields and in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and socio-economic development. The comprehensive assessment of the legal system demonstrates Vietnam’s strong political determination to improve its legal system in the field of countering the proliferation of WMD.

Figure 2. Delegates discuss the issues.

Based on the results of the assessment of Vietnam’s legal system and the points clarified during the discussions, the experts of the EXBS Program and EU P2P put forward many proposals and suggested approaches to resolving issues in order to improve Vietnam’s legal system on countering the proliferation of WMD. The Vietnamese delegates and the experts discussed and agreed on many important matters. The outcome of the workshop provides an important basis for Standing Office 81 to work with domestic and international experts and to consult the relevant ministries and sectors in order to advise the competent authorities on the direction, objectives and roadmap for improving Vietnam’s legal framework for countering the proliferation of WMD.

Vuong Nguyen - Centre 81

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