Judicial reform must be placed under the Party’s comprehensive leadership and firmly maintain the nature of a law-governed socialist state of Viet Nam that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

The aforementioned instruction was made by State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc whilst addressing a national seminar held in Da Nang on Monday with the theme ‘Continuing to enhance the effectiveness of judicial reform to meet the requirements of perfecting the law-governed socialist state of Viet Nam by 2030 with a vision towards 2045’.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a concluding speech at the national seminar, January 1, 2022. Photo: NGOC PHU

Drastic reform of the judiciary in an urgent need

According to State President Phuc, the history of development of the Vietnamese judiciary has undergone many reforms to meet the requirements of national construction and development. The most recent is the judicial reform in the 2002 - 2020 period on the basis of Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW on a number of key tasks of judicial work in the coming time and Resolution No. 49-NQ/TW adopted by Politburo on judicial reform strategy till 2020.

The reforms have contributed to the construction of the Vietnamese judiciary that is constantly developing, getting closer to the civilised and progressive values of the modern judiciary.

He also affirmed that, in the context of international and regional integration and the burgeoning digital economy, the Industry 4.0 is taking place strongly, profoundly affecting all aspects of social life and posing even more urgent requirements for the strong reform of the judiciary in Viet Nam.

Perfecting the rule-of-law socialist State of the people, by the people and for the people in Viet Nam towards the values of democracy, fairness, justice, freedom, humanity, assurance, and the protection of human rights, citizens' rights and the socialist regime is the prime responsibility of the judiciary. Therefore, judicial reform must be further promoted and raised to a new height.

Based on suggestions made by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Head of the Party Central Committee (PCC)’s Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac, the delegates at the seminar focused on clarifying issues that need to be solved such as the focus of judicial reform, the independence of the judiciary and the renovation of the organisational model of judicial agencies.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third, right), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (third, left) and Politburo members chair the seminar, January 1, 2022. Photo: NGOC PHU

Judicial reform must be under the comprehensive leadership of the Party

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized that, through discussions, the delegates basically agreed on a number of views on judicial reform in the coming time as follows:

Firstly, judicial reform must be placed under the Party’s comprehensive leadership and firmly maintain the nature of a law-governed socialist state of Viet Nam that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Secondly, judicial reform must be carried out synchronously with legislative and administrative reform to guarantee that the State power is consistent, with task assignment, coordination, and control among State agencies in exercising the legislative, executive, and judicial powers

Thirdly, judicial reform aims to ensure the independence of the judiciary to better protect and ensure democracy, fairness, justice, human rights, citizens' rights, and legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuality with a high respect for the law.

Fourthly, judicial reform must inherit the achievements gained by Viet Nam’s justice system, selectively absorb progressive values, and valuable experiences of foreign countries in accordance with the law and the practical conditions in Viet Nam and requires proactive international integration, in line with the development trend of the world.

Finally, judicial reform must be carried out expeditiously, synchronously and comprehensively, clearly define the central and key contents, have an appropriate reform programmes, plans and roadmap, and clearly define the authority and responsibility of each agency, organisation and individual in the implementation of judicial reform.

In the time to come, the steering committee for drafting a strategy for building and completing a law-governed socialist state of Viet Nam by 2030, with a vision to 2045  will hold a third conference to discuss new and breakthrough issues in the building and completion of a law-governed socialist state of Viet Nam. Some specialised workshops will also take place.

Reporting by NGOC PHU, LAM PHUONG – Translating by A. THU