Ordinance No. 33/2007/PL-UBTVQH11 on Signing and Implementing International Agreements

ORDINANCE

Signing and Implementing International Agreements

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Based on the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1992, amended and supplemented by Resolution No. 51/2001/QH10 dated December 25, 2001 of the 10th Session of the 10th National Assembly;

Based on Resolution No. 72/2006/QH11 dated November 29, 2006 of the 10th Session of the 11th National Assembly regarding the Program for Law and Ordinance Building in 2007;

This Ordinance stipulates the authority, procedures, and formalities for signing and implementing international agreements.

 PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of application

This Ordinance stipulates the authority, procedures, and formalities for signing and implementing international agreements on behalf of the National Assembly, its agencies, its assisting agencies, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Audit Office, ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government (hereinafter collectively referred to as central state agencies); Provincial People's Councils, provincial People's Committees, municipal People's Councils, and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government (hereinafter collectively referred to as provincial agencies); central agencies of political-social organizations, political-social-professional organizations, social organizations, and social-professional organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as central agencies of organizations).

Article 2. Content of International Agreements

1. An international agreement is a written commitment on international cooperation concluded on behalf of central state agencies, provincial agencies, and central agencies of organizations within their functions, tasks, and authorities with one or more foreign signatories, except for the following contents:

a) Peace, security, borders, territory, national sovereignty;

b) Basic rights and obligations of citizens, judicial assistance;

c) Participation in intergovernmental international organizations;

d) Official development assistance within the scope of state-level or government-level relations of Vietnam;

đ) Other issues within the scope of state-level or government-level relations according to the provisions of the law.

2. International agreements are concluded with titles such as Agreement, Memorandum, Record of Agreement, Exchange Record, Cooperation Program, Cooperation Plan, or other titles.

Article 3. Definitions

In this Ordinance, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Foreign signatory means the National Assembly, its agencies, its assisting agencies, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, ministries, agencies under the Government, or equivalent agencies; local governments; foreign organizations.

2. Signing refers to legal acts performed by central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations, including negotiation, signing, or exchanging documents to form international agreements on behalf of these agencies with foreign signatories.

3. Signing refers to the legal act performed by authorized persons to accept the binding nature of international agreements for central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations.

4. Exchanging documents to form international agreementsrefers to the exchange of letters or other named documents to form bilateral international agreements between central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations and foreign signatories.

5. Termination of the effect of international agreements refers to the legal act performed by central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations to abandon the effect of international agreements between these agencies and foreign signatories.

6. Suspension of implementation of international agreements refers to the legal act performed by central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations to temporarily suspend the full or partial implementation of international agreements between these agencies and foreign signatories.

Article 4. Principles of Signing and Implementing International Agreements

The signing and implementation of international agreements must comply with the following principles:

1. Consistent with the national interests and foreign policy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; consistent with the principle of respecting national sovereignty, not interfering in internal affairs of countries, and other basic principles of international law; consistent with international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member that provide for the same field;

2. Consistent with the Constitution and laws of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; consistent with the functions, tasks, and authorities of the agencies concluding international agreements;

3. Ensuring the feasibility and effectiveness of signed international agreements;

4. Only binding on the agency that has signed the international agreement; not generating international legal rights or obligations of the State or Government of Vietnam;

5. Central state agencies, provincial agencies, and central agencies of organizations have the responsibility to strictly implement international agreements concluded on behalf of these agencies, while having the right to demand that foreign signatories also strictly implement international agreements.

Article 5. State Management of Signing and Implementing International Agreements

The content of state management of signing and implementing international agreements includes:

1. Issuing normative legal documents on signing and implementing international agreements;

2. Ensuring the signing and implementation of international agreements in accordance with the law;

3. Promoting and disseminating laws on signing and implementing international agreements;

4. Organizing statistics and archiving international agreements;

5. Supervising, inspecting, auditing, and handling violations of the law on signing and implementing international agreements;

6. Resolving complaints and reports related to activities of signing and implementing international agreements

Article 6. State Management Authority for Signing and Implementing International Agreements

1. The Government shall uniformly manage state affairs regarding the signing and implementation of international agreements.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible before the Government for managing state affairs related to the signing and implementation of international agreements.

3. Central-level state agencies, provincial-level agencies, and foreign affairs management agencies of organizations, within their respective tasks and authorities, shall coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage state affairs related to the signing and implementation of international agreements.

Article 7. Forms of Acceptance of Binding Obligations under International Agreements

Central-level state agencies, provincial-level agencies, or central-level agencies of organizations shall accept binding obligations under international agreements through one of the following actions:

1. Signing an international agreement;

2. Exchanging documents that form an international agreement;

3. Other actions agreed upon with the foreign signatory.

Article 8. Language of International Agreements

1. An international agreement must have a Vietnamese-language version, except where otherwise agreed between the Vietnamese party and the foreign signatory. The Vietnamese-language version must accurately reflect the content and be consistent in form with the foreign-language version of the international agreement.

2. In cases where an international agreement is only signed in a foreign language, the Vietnamese party shall be responsible for translating the international agreement into Vietnamese.

Chapter II

SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

PART 1

SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AGENCIES, AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ASSISTANT AGENCIES AUTHORITY TO DECIDE ON SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AGENCIES, AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ASSISTANT AGENCIES

Article 9. Authority to decide on signing international agreements on behalf of the National Assembly, National Assembly agencies, and National Assembly assistant agencies

1. The Chairman of the National Assembly, the head of a National Assembly agency, or the head of a National Assembly assistant agency shall decide on signing international agreements on behalf of the National Assembly, National Assembly agencies, and National Assembly assistant agencies.

2. In cases where there are differing opinions between a National Assembly agency or a National Assembly assistant agency and the agency whose opinion is sought pursuant to Clause 1 of Article 10 of this Ordinance, the National Assembly agency or the National Assembly assistant agency shall be responsible for submitting the matter to the Chairman of the National Assembly for a decision on signing the international agreement.

Article 10. Procedures and Formalities for Signing International Agreements on Behalf of the National Assembly, National Assembly Agencies, and National Assembly Assistant Agencies

1. Prior to initiating the signing of an international agreement, a National Assembly agency or a National Assembly assistant agency shall be responsible for seeking written opinions from the National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant agencies involved in the cooperative activities covered by the international agreement.

2. The agency whose opinion is sought pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for responding in writing within seven working days from the date of receipt of the written request for opinion.

3. The Chairman of the National Assembly, the head of a National Assembly agency, or the head of a National Assembly assistant agency shall decide and proceed with signing or authorize another person to sign the international agreement after receiving the written response from the agency whose opinion was sought pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article.

4. In cases where there are differing opinions between a National Assembly agency or a National Assembly assistant agency and the agency whose opinion is sought pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article, the procedures and formalities shall be carried out as follows:

a) The National Assembly agency or the National Assembly assistant agency shall be responsible for submitting the matter to the Chairman of the National Assembly for comments on signing the international agreement;

b) The Chairman of the National Assembly shall decide in writing on signing the international agreement within seven working days from the date of receipt of the dossier submitted by the National Assembly agency or the National Assembly assistant agency;

c) The head of the National Assembly agency or the head of the National Assembly assistant agency shall proceed with signing or authorize another person to sign the international agreement after receiving the written approval decision of the Chairman of the National Assembly as stipulated in point b of this clause.

5. After signing the international agreement, the National Assembly agency or the National Assembly assistant agency shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the Chairman of the National Assembly, while simultaneously sending a copy of the signed international agreement to the National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for notification.

PART 2

SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT, SUPREME PEOPLE'S PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, AND STATE AUDIT ORGANIZATION SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT, SUPREME PEOPLE'S PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, AND STATE AUDIT ORGANIZATION

Article 11. Competence to decide on the conclusion of international agreements on behalf of the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency

The President of the Supreme People's Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Director of the State Audit Agency shall decide on the conclusion of international agreements on behalf of the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency.

Article 12. Procedures for concluding international agreements on behalf of the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency

1. Prior to concluding an international agreement, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency shall be responsible for seeking the written opinions of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant agencies related to the cooperative activities under the international agreement.

2. The agency whose opinion is sought pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for responding in writing within seven working days from the date of receipt of the written request for opinion.

3. The President of the Supreme People's Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Director of the State Audit Agency shall decide and conclude the international agreement or authorize another person to sign it after receiving the written response from the agency whose opinion was sought as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

4. In case there are differing opinions between the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, or the State Audit Agency and the agency whose opinion was sought as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, the procedures shall be carried out as follows:

a) The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency shall be responsible for submitting the matter to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for its opinion on the conclusion of the international agreement;

b) The Standing Committee of the National Assembly shall provide its written opinion on the conclusion of the international agreement within seven working days from the date of receipt of the dossier submitted by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency;

c) The opinion of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly as stipulated in point b of this clause shall serve as the basis for the President of the Supreme People's Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Director of the State Audit Agency to decide and conclude the international agreement or authorize another person to sign it.

5. After concluding the international agreement, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Agency shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, while simultaneously sending a copy of the concluded international agreement to the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for notification.

PART 3

CONCLUSION OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF MINISTRIES, AGENCIES EQUIVALENT TO MINISTRIES, AND AGENCIES UNDER THE GOVERNMENT BELONGS TO THE GOVERNMENT

Article 13. Competence to decide on the conclusion of international agreements on behalf of ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government

The Minister, Head of an agency equivalent to a ministry, and Head of an agency under the Government shall decide on the conclusion of international agreements on behalf of ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government.

Article 14. Procedures for concluding international agreements on behalf of ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government

1. Prior to concluding an international agreement, ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government shall be responsible for seeking the written opinions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies related to the cooperative activities under the international agreement.

2. The agency whose opinion is sought pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for responding in writing within seven working days from the date of receipt of the written request for opinion.

3. The Minister, Head of an agency equivalent to a ministry, and Head of an agency under the Government shall decide and conclude the international agreement or authorize another person to sign it after receiving the written response from the agency whose opinion was sought as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

4. In case there are differing opinions between ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, or agencies under the Government and the agency whose opinion was sought as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, the procedures shall be carried out as follows:

a) Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government shall be responsible for submitting the matter to the Prime Minister for his opinion on the conclusion of the international agreement;

b) The Prime Minister shall provide his written opinion on the conclusion of the international agreement within seven working days from the date of receipt of the dossier submitted by ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government;

c) The opinion of the Prime Minister as stipulated in point b of this clause shall serve as the basis for the Minister, Head of an agency equivalent to a ministry, and Head of an agency under the Government to decide and conclude the international agreement or authorize another person to sign it.

5. After concluding the international agreement, ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the Prime Minister, while simultaneously sending a copy of the concluded international agreement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for notification.

PART 4

CONCLUSION OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF PROVINCE LEVEL AGENCIES

Article 15. Competence to decide on signing international agreements in the name of provincial agencies

The head of a provincial agency decides on signing international agreements in the name of that provincial agency.

Article 16. Procedures and formalities for signing international agreements in the name of provincial agencies

1. Prior to signing an international agreement, the provincial agency shall be responsible for seeking the written opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies related to the cooperation activities covered by the international agreement.

2. The agency whose opinion is sought pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for responding in writing within seven working days from the date of receipt of the written request for opinion.

3. The head of the provincial agency decides and proceeds with signing the international agreement or delegates another person to sign it after receiving the written response from the agency whose opinion was sought under Clause 1 of this Article.

4. In case there are differing opinions between the provincial agency and the agency whose opinion was sought under Clause 1 of this Article, the procedures and formalities shall be carried out as follows:

a) The provincial agency shall be responsible for submitting the matter to the Prime Minister for his opinion on signing the international agreement;

b) The Prime Minister provides his written opinion on signing the international agreement within seven working days from the date of receipt of the dossier submitted by the provincial agency;

c) The opinion of the Prime Minister provided under point b of this clause serves as the basis for the head of the provincial agency to decide and proceed with signing the international agreement or delegate another person to sign it.

5. After signing the international agreement, the provincial agency shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the Prime Minister, while simultaneously sending a copy of the signed international agreement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for notification.

SECTION 5

SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IN THE NAME OF THE CENTRAL ORGANIZATION'S AGENCY

Article 17. Competence to decide on signing international agreements in the name of the central agency of an organization

The head of the central agency of an organization decides on signing international agreements in the name of that central agency after obtaining the written consent of the agency managing the organization's external activities.

Article 18. Procedures and formalities for signing international agreements in the name of the central agency of an organization

1. Before submitting the matter to the agency managing the organization's external activities regarding the signing of an international agreement, the central agency of the organization shall be responsible for seeking the written opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, state agencies managing the cooperation sector, and organizations related to the cooperation activities covered by the international agreement.

2. The agencies and organizations whose opinions were sought under Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for providing their written responses within seven working days from the date of receipt of the opinion-seeking document.

3. The central agency of the organization submits the matter to the agency managing the organization's external activities for its opinion on signing the international agreement after receiving the written response from the agencies and organizations whose opinions were sought under Clause 1 of this Article.

4. The agency managing the organization's external activities provides its written opinion on signing the international agreement in the name of the central agency of the organization within seven working days from the date of receipt of the dossier submitted by the central agency of the organization.

5. The head of the central agency of the organization decides and proceeds with signing the international agreement or delegates another person to sign it after obtaining the written consent of the agency managing the organization's external activities as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article.

6. After signing the international agreement, the central agency of the organization shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the agency managing the organization's external activities, while simultaneously sending a copy of the signed international agreement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for notification.

SECTION 6

DRAFTING OPINION REQUESTS AND SUBMISSIONS FOR SIGNING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Article 19. Documents for Soliciting Opinions on Signing International Agreements

The documents for soliciting opinions from relevant agencies and organizations on signing international agreements as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 10, Clause 1 of Article 12, Clause 1 of Article 14, Clause 1 of Article 16, and Clause 1 of Article 18 of this Ordinance include:

1. A proposal document regarding the signing of the international agreement, specifying the requirements and purpose of signing the international agreement; the main contents of the international agreement; an assessment of the political, economic, social impacts and other impacts of the intended signed international agreement; an evaluation of compliance with the provisions of Articles 2 and 4 of this Ordinance;

2. The international agreement in Vietnamese and foreign languages; in cases where the international agreement is only signed in a foreign language, there must be a Vietnamese translation of the international agreement attached;

3. Other necessary documents.

Article 20. Documents for Submitting Opinions on Signing International Agreements

The documents for submitting opinions on signing international agreements as stipulated in Clause 4 of Article 10, Clause 4 of Article 12, Clause 4 of Article 14, Clause 4 of Article 16, and Clause 3 of Article 18 of this Ordinance include:

1. A proposal document regarding the signing of the international agreement, specifying the requirements and purpose of signing the international agreement; the main contents of the international agreement; an assessment of the political, economic, social impacts and other impacts of the intended signed international agreement; an evaluation of compliance with the provisions of Articles 2 and 4 of this Ordinance; issues with differing opinions between relevant agencies and organizations if any;

2. Written opinions of relevant agencies and organizations as stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 10, Clause 2 of Article 12, Clause 2 of Article 14, Clause 2 of Article 16, and Clause 2 of Article 18 of this Ordinance;

3. The international agreement in Vietnamese and foreign languages; in cases where the international agreement is only signed in a foreign language, there must be a Vietnamese translation of the international agreement attached;

4. Other necessary documents.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Article 21. Effectiveness of International Agreements

1. An international agreement becomes effective according to the provisions of the international agreement itself.

2. In cases where the international agreement does not specify its effectiveness, it shall become effective based on the mutual agreement between the Vietnamese party and the foreign signatory.

Article 22. Archiving International Agreements

Central state agencies, provincial-level agencies, and central agencies of organizations are responsible for archiving original copies of international agreements in accordance with the laws on archiving.

Article 23. Copies of International Agreements

1. Central state agencies, provincial-level agencies, and central agencies of organizations are responsible for making copies of effective international agreements and sending them to related units under central state agencies, provincial-level agencies, or central agencies of organizations to implement such international agreements.

2. In cases where the international agreement is only signed in a foreign language, central state agencies, provincial-level agencies, and central agencies of organizations are responsible for attaching a Vietnamese translation of the international agreement.

Article 24. Publicizing International Agreements

International agreements signed on behalf of central state agencies, provincial-level agencies, or central agencies of organizations shall be publicly announced, except in cases where there is a different agreement between the Vietnamese party and the foreign signatory or a decision of a competent state agency to the contrary.

Article 25. Implementation of international agreements

1. Central state agencies, provincial agencies, and central agencies of organizations within their assigned tasks and powers shall be responsible for strictly organizing and implementing international agreements they have signed, while demanding that foreign signatories strictly implement those international agreements.

2. The implementation of international agreements shall not violate the principles stipulated in Article 4 of this Ordinance.

Article 26. Amendment, Supplement, or Extension of International Agreements

1. The authority to decide on signing international agreements as prescribed in Articles 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 of this Ordinance also has the authority to decide on amending, supplementing, or extending such international agreements.

2. The procedures and formalities for amending, supplementing, or extending international agreements shall be conducted similarly to the procedures and formalities for signing international agreements as prescribed in this Ordinance.

3. After amending, supplementing, or extending an international agreement, central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations shall notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the amendments, supplements, or extensions of the international agreement.

Article 27. Termination of Effectiveness or Suspension of Implementation of International Agreements

1. An international agreement may be terminated or suspended in the following cases:

a) As provided for in the international agreement itself or by mutual agreement between Vietnam and the foreign signatory;

b) During the implementation of the international agreement, if there is a violation of any of the principles stipulated in Article 4 of this Ordinance;

c) When the foreign signatory seriously violates the international agreement.

2. The procedures and formalities for terminating effectiveness or suspending implementation of an international agreement shall be conducted similarly to the procedures and formalities for signing international agreements as prescribed in this Ordinance.

3. The authority to decide on signing international agreements as prescribed in Articles 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 of this Ordinance also has the authority to decide on terminating effectiveness or suspending implementation of such international agreements.

4. After making a decision to terminate effectiveness or suspend implementation of an international agreement, central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations shall be responsible for notifying the foreign signatory about the termination of effectiveness or suspension of implementation of the international agreement.

5. After an international agreement is terminated or suspended, central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations shall notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the termination of effectiveness or suspension of implementation of the international agreement.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CENTRAL STATE AGENCIES, PROVINCIAL AGENCIES AND CENTRAL AGENCIES OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ACTIVITY OF SIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Article 28. Responsibilities of Agencies in Managing the Activities of Signing and Implementing International Agreements

1. In the performance of state management over the signing and implementation of international agreements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall have the following tasks and powers:

a) To be responsible before the Government for performing state management over the signing and implementation of international agreements as prescribed in Article 5 of this Ordinance;

b) To coordinate with relevant agencies to report annually or upon request to the Government on the activities of signing and implementing international agreements by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial agencies.

2. In the activities of signing and implementing international agreements, the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee assists the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in performing the following tasks and powers:

a) To guide the activities of signing and implementing international agreements by the National Assembly's agencies, the National Assembly's assisting agencies, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Office;

b) To report to the National Assembly and inform the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annually or upon request about the activities of signing and implementing international agreements by the National Assembly's agencies, the National Assembly's assisting agencies, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Audit Office.

3. In the activities of signing and implementing international agreements, the agency managing external activities of organizations shall have the following tasks and powers:

a) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to guide the signing and implementation of international agreements by organizations;

b) To implement regular reporting annually or upon request from the competent superior agency and to inform the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the activities of signing and implementing international agreements by the central agency of the organization.

Article 29. Responsibilities of central state agencies, provincial agencies, and central agencies of organizations

Within the scope of their assigned tasks and powers, central state agencies, provincial agencies, and central agencies of organizations shall have the following responsibilities:

1. Ensuring strict compliance with and implementation of international agreements to which they are parties.

2. Developing long-term plans and annual plans for activities related to signing and implementing international agreements and submitting them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for monitoring and compiling reports to the Prime Minister; annual plans must be submitted no later than November 15 of the preceding year.

3. Organizing copies, publication, dissemination, and popularization of international agreements to which they are parties, except where such agreements are not permitted to be published according to agreements between Vietnam and foreign signatories or pursuant to decisions of competent state authorities.

4. Taking necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of the agency that signed the international agreement when the international agreement signed on behalf of that agency is violated.

5. Reporting on the situation of signing and implementing international agreements to the competent authority specified in Articles 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 of this Ordinance no later than November 15 each year; simultaneously sending the report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for monitoring and compiling reports to the Prime Minister. The report should clearly state difficulties, advantages, and specific recommendations for measures to strictly implement signed international agreements and enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation.

In cases where requested, central state agencies, provincial agencies, or central agencies of organizations shall have the responsibility to report on the situation of signing and implementing international agreements to the competent authority specified in Articles 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 of this Ordinance.

Article 30. Supervision of Activities Related to Signing and Implementing International Agreements

1. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly shall supervise the implementation of this Ordinance on signing and implementing international agreements.

2. The Foreign Affairs Committee shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ethnic Council and other committees of the National Assembly to supervise the implementation of this Ordinance on signing and implementing international agreements.

3. Delegations of the National Assembly, National Assembly deputies, Provincial People's Councils, and People's Councils of centrally governed cities shall have the responsibility to supervise the signing and implementation of international agreements in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 31. Handling Violations

Organizations, entities, and individuals who violate the provisions of this Ordinance shall be subject to legal sanctions as prescribed by law.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 32. Funding for Signing and Implementing International Agreements

1. Funding for signing and implementing international agreements on behalf of central state agencies and provincial agencies shall be guaranteed from the state budget allocated for the regular operations of central state agencies and provincial agencies and other sources of funding.

2. Funding for signing and implementing international agreements on behalf of central agencies of organizations shall be guaranteed from the financial resources of the central agencies of organizations and other sources of funding.

Article 33. Effective Date

1. This Ordinance takes effect from July 1, 2007.

2. Decree No. 20/2002/NĐ-CP dated February 20, 2002 of the Government on signing and implementing international agreements by centrally governed cities, political-social organizations, social organizations, and social-professional organizations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall cease to be effective from the date this Ordinance takes effect./.