Decision No. 43/2004/QĐ-BNV on approving the Charter (amended) of the Vietnam Association for Urban Planning and Development

CHARTER

ASSOCIATION OF URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM (AMENDED)

Chapter 1:

NAME, AIMS, AND MISSIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 1. Name of the Association

1. Name of the Association: Association of Urban Planning and Development in Vietnam

Abbreviated name: Association of Urban Planning

English name: Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association

Abbreviation: VUPDA

2. The central office of the Association is located in Hanoi, the capital city.

Article 2. 1. The Vietnam Fine Arts Association is a political-social-professional organization of artists engaged in painting, graphic art, sculpture, applied art, and art criticism who voluntarily join the activities of the Association.

1. The Association of Urban Planning and Development in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the Association) is a social-professional organization voluntarily gathering individuals engaged in urban planning and development throughout the country.

2. The Association operates nationwide on the principle of complying with legal regulations, striving for the purpose of building and sustainably developing urban areas in Vietnam in accordance with industrialization and modernization orientations, contributing to the cause of national construction and defense.

3. The Association is a member of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

4. The Association has legal personality, its own seal, bank account, headquarters, and media organ.

5. The Association may participate in international organizations of the same profession in accordance with legal provisions.

Article 3. Tasks of the Association

1. To gather and unite individuals engaged in urban planning and development throughout the country in various fields such as urban and rural planning and design, urban landscape architectural design, urban management, environmental protection, consulting, training, and scientific research on urban planning, investment, and development.

2. To protect the legitimate rights and interests of members in terms of spirit, material, and professional ethics.

3. To perform advisory, critical, and social appraisal functions in urban planning and development work; to carry out tasks assigned by the State to the Association.

4. To participate with state management agencies, scientific research organizations, training institutions, and other social organizations in researching, drafting legal documents, conducting scientific research, consulting on investment, and training in the field of urban planning and development.

5. To disseminate knowledge, experience, and laws to enhance public awareness about urban planning and development.

6. To protect the legitimate rights and guide professional activities for member associations and subordinate units of the Association.

7. To organize international exchanges and cooperation with foreign organizations and individuals in accordance with legal provisions.

Chapter 2:

MEMBERS

Article 4. Members

Members: including collective members and individual members (hereinafter collectively referred to as members).

1. Vietnamese citizens and organizations operating in the field of urban planning and development, urban management, who agree with the Charter of the Association and voluntarily apply to join the Association can be admitted as members of the Association.

2. Organizations and individuals who agree with the Charter of the Association, have played a role and made contributions to the construction and development of the Association, but do not have the conditions to become formal members of the Association, if they wish, can be invited by the Association to become associated members or honorary members of the Association.

Article 5. Procedures for admitting members

1. Individuals wishing to become members of the Association must submit an application to join the Association.

2. The provincial-level Association (hereinafter referred to as the provincial Association) receives applications, examines them, and submits them to the Provincial Association's Executive Board for examination and decision-making, and organizes the admission of new members.

3. For specialized branch associations such as scientific research, training, production, and business under the Central Association (hereinafter referred to as the grassroots branch association), the grassroots branch association receives applications, examines them, and submits them to the Central Association's Executive Board for decision-making. After receiving the decision from the Central Association's Executive Board, the grassroots branch association organizes the admission of its members.

Article 6. Rights of Members

Members have the following rights:

1. Participating in activities organized by the Association;

2. To nominate and vote for positions in the Association's leadership bodies, except for associated members and honorary members.

3. Democratically discussing all aspects of the Association's work;

4. To be protected by the Association in terms of copyright, professional practice rights, and other benefits as stipulated by law.

5. To utilize the means and assistance provided by the Association in terms of material and spiritual support for professional activities.

6. To participate in other professional associations according to their charters.

7. To request withdrawal from the Association. When there is a desire to leave the Association, the member submits a resignation letter to the Executive Board that admitted them to remove their name.

Article 7. Obligations of Members

Members have the following obligations:

1. To comply with the Charter of the Association, implement resolutions and work programs of the Association, and participate in Association activities.

2. To strive for high efficiency and quality in professional activities related to urban planning and development.

3. To continuously study and improve political, ideological, and professional qualifications.

4. To participate in promotional activities to widely disseminate theoretical and practical knowledge in urban planning and development.

5. To maintain professional ethics, protect the honor and integrity of members.

6. To pay membership fees fully.

Chapter 3:

Article 8. Principles of Organization

Article 8. The organization and activities of the Association operate on the principles of voluntarism, self-management, and self-financing. The structure of the Association includes:

1. At the Central Association: Association of Urban Planning and Development in Vietnam.

2. At the provincial level (hereinafter collectively referred to as provinces): Provincial Association of Urban Planning and Development.

3. At the grassroots level: Branch associations; grassroots organizations with ten or more members can establish branch associations.

Article 9. National Congress of the Association

The highest leadership body of the Association of Urban Planning and Development in Vietnam is the National Congress, held every five years. An extraordinary congress can be convened when more than half of the Central Association's Executive Board members request it. The number and composition of delegates attending the congress are determined by the incumbent Central Association's Executive Board.

Responsibilities of the Congress:

- Summarize and evaluate the Association's activities during the previous term, discuss directions and action plans for the new term.

- Approve and amend the Charter (if necessary).

- Elect the Central Executive Board and the Central Inspection Board.

- Decide on issues related to the development of the Association.

Article 10. The Central Association's Executive Board is the leadership body between two congress terms. The number of Central Association's Executive Board members is set by the Congress and directly elected.

The Executive Board has the following responsibilities:

- Lead the implementation of Congress resolutions;

- Lead the implementation of the Association's Charter;

- Develop relations with domestic and foreign organizations, contributing to the development of the Association;

- Monitor the activities of provincial associations and specialized sub-committees;

- Elect the Executive Board consisting of the Chairman, (one or more) Vice Chairmen, General Secretary, and other members.

- Supplement Central Association's Executive Board members between congresses if necessary, but the number of newly elected members shall not exceed one-third of the current Central Association's Executive Board members elected by the Congress;

- The Central Association's Executive Board meets regularly once a year (except in emergencies).

Article 11. The Central Association's Executive Board

1. The Executive Board is the permanent body of the Central Association's Executive Board.

2. The Executive Board is elected by the Central Association's Executive Board.

3. The Board of Chairmen of the Association consists of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Secretary General, and members.

4. The Board of Chairmen of the Association has the following responsibilities:

- Representing the Central Executive Committee of the Association to direct all aspects of the Association's work. Leading the implementation of decisions of the Central Executive Committee between two meetings of the Central Executive Committee.

- Directly leading and managing organizations under the Association, grassroots associations.

- Approving projects and cooperation documents with organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally in accordance with the law.

- Deciding on the establishment of specialized committees.

- Reviewing and awarding commendations and disciplinary actions.

5. The Board of Chairmen of the Association convenes regularly once every three months, and may convene extraordinary meetings when necessary at the Chairman's discretion.

Article 12. The Chairman is elected from among the members of the Board of Chairmen by the Central Executive Committee of the Association, presides over meetings of the Central Executive Committee and the Board of Chairmen, implements resolutions of the Central Executive Committee and the Board of Chairmen, and is responsible for all activities of the Association under the law.

Article 13. The Vice Chairmen are elected by the Central Executive Committee of the Association, assigned by the Chairman to lead specific areas of the Association's activities, and represent the Chairman in signing documents within their authority.

Article 14. The Secretary General is elected by the Central Executive Committee of the Association, permanently handles tasks assigned by the Chairman, manages all activities of the Central Association Office, and signs documents within their authority. When necessary, the Secretary General may propose to the Board of Chairmen to establish specialized sub-committees and organizations serving the development of the Association, in accordance with the law.

Article 15. Audit Committee

The Executive Committee elects a Supervisory Committee; the Supervisory Committee has the following responsibilities:

- Inspecting the implementation of Resolutions of the Congress, Regulations, rules, and annual work programs of the Association.

- Inspecting members' activities to commend and reward them, while identifying violations of the law to promptly correct them.

- Inspecting economic and financial activities of the Association and its affiliated organizations; reviewing and resolving complaints and petitions.

Article 16. Provincial Urban Planning Development Associations and grassroots associations directly under the Central Association

The establishment of provincial Urban Planning Development Associations is decided by the People's Committee of the province. The establishment of grassroots associations directly under the Central Association is decided by the Central Board of Chairmen. These Associations and grassroots associations have their own regulations or operational rules based on respect for the law and the Regulations of the Vietnam Urban Planning Development Association.

Chapter 4:

FINANCE AND ASSETS

Article 17. Financial Resources of the Association:

1. The Association's finances are managed and utilized according to the regulations of the Central Executive Committee of the Association, in compliance with the state's financial management system.

2. Sources of the Association's finances include:

- Financial support from the state budget.

- Membership fees.

- Revenue from advisory services, scientific research, creation, production, design, service provision, and training activities of the Association.

- Financial contributions from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

- Other legitimate sources of finance.

Article 18. Assets of the Association

The Association's assets consist of fixed assets and equipment serving the Association's activities, created from the Association's financial resources.

Upon dissolution of the Association, its assets will be disposed of in accordance with the law.

Chapter 5:

REWARD AND DISCIPLINE

Article 19. Awards

Annually or periodically, the Central Executive Committee of the Association reviews and awards commendations to outstanding members, Associations, and grassroots associations with significant achievements in professional activities, and for outstanding works and innovations in urban planning and development. Awards for urban planning and development design.

The commendation fund is derived from various sources of sponsorship and the Association's finances.

Article 20. Disciplinary Measures

Disciplinary measures against members who violate the Regulations, Resolutions, and operational principles of the Association, and expulsion of members from the Association are decided by the competent level of the Association.

Chapter 6:

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 21. Amending the Charter

The Charter of the Association shall be amended upon proposal of the Central Executive Board of the Association and must be approved by the National Congress with the majority of attending delegates agreeing.

Article 22. Effectiveness and Implementation

1. This Charter of the Association consists of 6 Chapters comprising 22 Articles, which have been adopted at the second National Congress of the Association and become effective pursuant to the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

2. Members and affiliated organizations of the Association are responsible for implementing this Charter./.