Being a key force in the cause of fighting criminal, the people's police force has actively implemented international cooperation, strengthened negotiation, signed and joined the organizations to carry out international bilateral and multilateral treaties on criminal prevention and suppression.

- Multilateral international treaties are legal basis for Vietnam People's Police Force to cooperate with other countries in criminal prevention and suppression:

+ Three international conventions of the United Nations (UN) on drug control including: the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (the 1988 Vienna Convention), the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Vietnam participates in the three conventions with the title of the State on September 1, 1997 and maintains the provisions on extradition and settlement of disputes of the convention.

+ The UN convention against transnational organized crimes and 3 protocols supplemented to this convention. Vietnam joined the convention on December 13, 2000 (in Palermo, Italia)

+ The convention of the UN on anti- corruption. Vietnam has signed the convention in December 2003 in Mexico

+ International conventions on anti- terrorism. Vietnam has joined 8 in 12 international conventions on fighting terrorism

+ International convention on children’s right and two protocols supplemented to the convention (1990).

Vietnam has approved the convention and protocols but reserved the provisions of extradition. The content of the convention and protocols will create the legal basis for the People's Police Force of Vietnam to cooperate with the member country to fight the crime injuring children in global scope and in relation to Vietnam

+ The agreements on judicial interdependence which have been negotiated and signed with other countries

Up to now, Vietnam has signed 15 agreements on judicial interdependence and extradition with USSR (10-12-1981); Czech Republic and Slovakia (12-10-1982); Hungary (18-1-1985); Bungary (3-10-1986) and approved the agreement on 5-6-1987); Poland (22-3-1993); Laos (6-7-1998); The Federal Republic of Russia (25-8-1998); China (19-10-1998); Ukraine (6-4-2000); Mongol (17-4-2000); Belarus (2000); Republic of North Korea (03-5-2002), Agreement on legal interdependence in criminal field between ASEAN countries. As for South Korea, Vietnam has signed two agreements: judicial interdependence on crime; agreement on extradition.

- The agreements on criminal prevention signed by Vietnam government with the governments of other countries

+ Agreements on consulate

After joining the convention on consulate relation (24-4-1963) which became effective for Vietnam since 8-10-1992, Vietnam has signed more than 10 agreements on consulate with different countries in the world.

+ The agreements and memorandum of understanding signed by and between Vietnam and other countries on drug related crimes prevention.

* The agreement signed by and between Vietnam and Hungary on cooperation on fighting drug trafficking, organized crime and international terrorism on Feb. 4, 1998.

* Memorandum of understanding signed by Vietnam and Cambodia on cooperation on drug, psychotropic substances and precursors control…(1-6-1998)

* The agreement between Vietnam and Laos on cooperation on drug, psychotropic substances and precursors control on 6-7-199

* The agreement between Vietnam and Thailand on cooperation on drug, psychotropic substances and precursors control on 7-10-1998.

* The memorandum of understanding between Vietnam and China on cooperation on drug, psychotropic substances and precursors control on (26-7-2001).

* The agreement on cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines on crime prevention (effective from 17-7-2001).

* The agreement between Vietnam and China on crime prevention and social security and order on 26-7-2001.

* The agreement between Vietnam and Thai Land on crime prevention (signed on 21-02-2004)

* The agreement between Vietnam and the Kingdom of Cambodia on cooperation on women and children trafficking prevention…

- The cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Police of other countries

* The cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs (the Ministry of Public Security) of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Federal Republic of Russia (21-7-1993).

* The agreement on friendship cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs (the Ministry of Public Security) of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of China (19-10-1993).

* The agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs (the Ministry of Public Security) of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Laos in 2001- 2005 (Signed on 11-5-2001).

* The agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of internal Affairs (the Ministry of Public Security) of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus (23-10-2000).

* The protocol on the implementation of cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the phase 1999-2000 and the next countries.

* The cooperation plan on crime prevention between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Cambodia in 2001 .

The document system above is the important legal basis for international cooperation of Vietnam Police Force in crime prevention.

2. Some specific results of international cooperation by implementing the international conventions from 2001 to 2005 .

- Appointing 900 times of cadre to take part in 500 delegations on working, studying and exchanging experience, attending international workshops in foreign countries on the topics regarding crime prevention.

- Having received and settled 4,486 times of information relating to 3,000 cases, 4,011 objects (in which 1,686 times relating to crime, 1,171 times of information relating to economic crime and 629 times of information relating to drug crime and about 1,000 times of information relating to hunting criminal).

3. Generally, the international cooperation on crime prevention of Vietnam People's Police Force has had good results in some certain fields. However, the implementation of international cooperation in accordance with the international conventions still reveals some problems.

4. In the coming time, to improve the effectiveness of negotiation, signing and implementation of international conventions relating to crime prevention and crime of the police force signed by Vietnam, it is necessary to carry out the following:

a) Enhancing establishment and completion of law system in Vietnam on crime prevention, providing concrete guidelines for implementation of international conventions and agreements and international legal documents on adjusting international cooperation on crime prevention of the police force; on such basis, proposing master programs on amendment, supplement, and setting up international law documents.

b) The appropriate authorities including the Ministry of Public Security will preside over and check the whole agreements, memorandum of understanding on international cooperation on crime prevention.

c) Proposing the State to introduce plan soon to approve the convention of the UN on fighting transnational organized crime (2000); Convention of the UN on fighting corruption (2003).

d) Enhancing dissemination and propaganda on international conventions relating to international cooperation on crime prevention under the policy on widely propagating and implementing well the agreements on crime prevention signed or joined by Vietnam.

d) Implementing well contents of international cooperation

e) Focusing on training and fostering task force cadres in charge of negotiation and implementation of international conventions on crime prevention and international cooperation. It is a very important task contributing to improve the effectiveness of international cooperation on crime prevention.

Pol.col.Ass.Prof.Ph.D.NGUYEN NGOC ANH