Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked theSupreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam and Singapore’s Office ofAttorney-General to step up coordination in criminal justice assistance andcriminal asset recovery.

At a reception for Singaporean Attorney-General Lucien Wong in Hanoi on January22, Binh spoke highly of the cooperation between the two agencies over the pasttime, especially in crime combat through criminal justice support.

The official expressed his hope that Vietnam would learn from Singapore’sjudicial experience, covering procuracy, judgment and e-justice building,explaining that during the implementation of cooperation agreements of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the joining of the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), there are manyissues related to the judicial sector.

Highlighting the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership which was establishedin 2013, Binh said the bilateral friendship and comprehensive cooperation haveseen progress in all channels and sectors, from politics to economy, security-nationaldefence, health care, education, people-to-people exchange and justice.

The relationship has been consolidated through regular visits by leaders of thetwo countries as well as meetings at multilateral forums, he said, stressingthat the Attorney-General’s visit has marked new legal and judicial cooperationbetween the two sides, contributing to elevating the bilateral ties to a newheight.

Vietnam and Singapore have participated in judicial assistance within ASEAN andreaped achievements in coordination in criminal justice mandate, he said.

Singapore is Vietnam’s third largest foreign investor and biggest ASEANinvestor with more than 1,800 projects. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks(VSIPs) have been seen as a symbol of the bilateral economic relations.

Binh said he believes that the strategic partnership between the two countrieswill step into a new development period and urged the Attorney-General tocontribute to promoting the bilateral collaboration across fields, includingthe judicial sector.

In reply, Lucien Wong briefed his host on outcomes of his talks with ProsecutorGeneral of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Le Minh Tri, saying thetwo sides reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation, creatinga legal framework for stronger partnership in the time ahead.

Over the past time, the Office of Singapore’s Attorney-General has assisted theVietnamese agency in personnel training, he said.   

The Singaporean office will closely cooperate with the Supreme People’sProcuracy and other Vietnamese agencies to promptly address common cases basedon local laws, he said.-VNA