On the afternoon of August 4, 2017, Vietnam Japan University (VJU), the University of Tokyo, and the Research Center for Sustainable Peace jointly hosted a workshop on “International arbitration and the rule of law for sustainable market”. The workshop was attended by many prestigious Vietnamese and Japanese lawyers and experts.
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice is listed as Goal 16 in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and is considered the key to promoting sustainable business operations. Against such a backdrop of development, international arbitration plays a critical role in promoting the rule of law not only for investment and trade, but also as a driving factor to enhance governance and transparency in Vietnam. As a leading aid donor of Vietnam, especially in relation to legal and judicial reforms, Japan has always endeavored to assist Vietnam in converging towards the global development by applying scientific achievements into practice. Therefore, built upon enhanced cooperation under Vietnam Japan Economic Partnership Agreement 2008 (VJEPA), the University of Tokyo, and the Research Center for Sustainable Peace organized the workshop “International Arbitration and the rule of law for sustainable market”.
In his welcoming remarks, VJU Rector – Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo said: “Today, moving towards sustainable development is a social issue for countries like Vietnam and Japan. Sciences with sustainable development orientations represent the combination of many fields, from humanitarian social studies to science, towards a sustainable society. This is of paramount importance for young people who want to become leaders in this 21st century. The topic of today’s workshop on International Arbitration and the rule of law for sustainable market is very relevant to the education and training philosophy of Vietnam Japan University. Vietnam Japan University currently offer programs such as Public Policy and Business Administration, which have a close linkage with international arbitration, hence we are very pleased to accept the offer from Prof. Dr. Yasunobu Sato to co-host this workshop. “
Photo: VJU Rector Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo delivering opening remarks
The workshop was divided into two sessions: The first session was the presentation of Prof. Dr. Yasunobu Sato, the Director of Sustainable Peace Study Center on international arbitration: rules and regulations for a sustainable market; followed by a breakout session, so that the speakers, by this order, including: Lawyer Vu Anh Duong, Standing Vice Chairman, cum the General Secretary of Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC); Prof. Dr. Maomi Iwase from the Hyogo Public University ; Lawyer Nguyen Manh Dung from Independent Consultant Law Ltd Co.; Lawyer Keigo Sawayama from Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu Office in Hanoi.
In this part, discussion topics are mainly centered around: What is the status of the Court and International Arbitration in Vietnam? What is the impact of Vietnamese legal reform on Vietnam’s international arbitration? What suggestions can be made to overcome the shortcomings of Vietnamese law to converge towards the trend of international trade dispute resolution today?
According to the speakers: Trade arbitration has been increasingly playing a decisive role in resolving trade disputes with foreign countries or involving foreign elements in business and investment; enterprises now tend to use Arbitration in lieu of the Court. Although Viet Nam has undergone certain reforms and development within the legal framework for arbitration, there are still many obstacles when the enterprises use arbitration to settle disputes, such as the risk of cancellation or not recognized by domestic courts for enforcement, etc.
In general, the promotion of commercial arbitration is the key to assuring a sustainable business environment for an integrated Vietnam. In addition to solutions for improving the legal framework, increasing the prestige of the arbitration, building systems for arbitration and intermediaries, the speakers have also emphasized the creation of a soft infrastructure in which the enhancement of knowledge for human resources operating in the areas related to the law is the core, especially the human resources in the state apparatus.
Photo: Seminar Closing
In closing, the speakers highly appreciated the content of the workshop, also hoping that the Vietnam Japan University would bring international arbitration related subjects into their programs to educate the generations of cadres who have knowledge of the rule of law and state of law.
