International Workshop on Dual-Use Goods Control and Advanced Sanctions Due Diligence Techniques
Unofficial translation from the Vietnamese original.
A workshop on the control of dual-use goods and advanced due diligence techniques for sanctions, held with the US Department of State's Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS), took place online on 11 and 12 October, linking venues in the United States and Vietnam.
The workshop was organised by Standing Office 81 of the Chemical Command in coordination with EXBS and a number of relevant agencies and units. Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hien, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Chemical Corps, attended and delivered the opening remarks. Also in attendance were the US Defence Attaché in Vietnam and the EXBS regional adviser.
Standing Office 81 is responsible for advising and assisting the National Focal Point of Vietnam for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and, on behalf of the National Focal Point, for carrying out activities to implement Decree No. 81 on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. One of the Office's current priorities is international cooperation aimed at progressively building the capacity of its specialist staff and promptly finalising Vietnam's legal and policy framework on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In his opening remarks, Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hien stressed that this was the first cooperative activity between Standing Office 81 and EXBS, and expressed confidence that the exchanges and discussions at the workshop would yield positive results for the professional work of the ministries, sectors and agencies of the National Focal Point of Vietnam.
At the workshop, participants focused on exchanging views and discussing a number of key topics, including: international obligations on the control of dual-use goods; identification characteristics; the essential elements of a control system and the legal basis for a dual-use goods control system; as well as exchanges and training to build capacity in advanced due diligence methods when implementing United Nations sanctions.
Lieutenant Colonel Dao The Huu, Deputy Director of Centre 81, Chemical Command, also briefed the US partners on the mandate of the National Focal Point of Vietnam, the responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defence in the state management of countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the direction of activities to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the coming period.
In this field, the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam takes the lead in, and coordinates with relevant ministries and sectors on, cooperation in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with a view to effectively performing the state management function in this field; raising the awareness and professional competence of the staff of the National Focal Point and the focal units for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and enhancing the capacity of the forces directly responsible for border control to recognise, detect and respond to proliferation incidents in this field.