A cooperation agreement was reached between the Vietnam Bar Federation (VBF) and the American Bar Association (ABA) in Hanoi on January 10, aiming to enhance mutual understandings and tighten relationships between the two side.

Illustrative photo (source: NDO)

Accordingly, the two sides shall, through their official channels, provide information related to the organisation and operation of the lawyers' professional bodies and lawyer's activities falling within the scope of each party’s competence.

The leaders from the concerned parties will meet on appropriate occasions to discuss issues of mutual interest. They also agreed to promote cooperation in technical assistance programmes to boost the VBF’s strategy on development of lawyer's profession and lawyer staff in the service of international integration.

VBF President Do Ngoc Thinh stressed that the signing marked a significant step forward in facilitating cooperation between the VBF and the ABA. Thinh expressed his hope that the two sides would discuss to seek for unified cooperative activities according to the principles stated in the agreement.

Hilarie Bass, President of the ABA, highly appreciated the important signing and affirmed that the agreement would help the two sides enhance mutual understanding and support for mutual development and benefits in compliance with the two countries’ laws.

Also on Wednesday morning, the VBF and the ABA exchanged on issues of mutual concern in terms of improving the lawyers’ quality and the code of ethics and professional conduct of lawyers in litigation and legal consultancy.

The ABA, founded in 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students. The 400,000 member organisation target setting of academic standards for law schools and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession in the US.

( VNF/NDO )