Chương IV Luật phòng, chống thiên tai 2013: Hợp tác quốc tế trong phòng, chống thiên tai

Chapter IV

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Article 38. Principles of international cooperation in natural disaster prevention and control

1. Respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non- intervention in internal affairs, and guarantee of national interests.

2. Compliance with treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party.

3. Proactive proposal of initiatives on international cooperation in natural disaster prevention and control.

4. Priority for international cooperation in training, scientific research and technology transfer; sharing of experiences and coordination in search and rescue; investment, construction and upgrading of natural disaster prevention and control works.

Article 39. Contents of international cooperation in natural disaster prevention and control

1. International cooperation in natural disaster information exchange, forecast and warning.

2. International cooperation in search and rescue.

3. International cooperation in humanitarian relief.

4. International cooperation in training, scientific research and technology transfer in natural disaster prevention and control.

Article 40. Focal point and agencies in charge of international cooperation in natural disaster prevention and control

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall act as the focal point answerable to the Government for international cooperation in natural disaster prevention and control, and has the following responsibilities:

a/ To receive forecasts, warnings and information relating to natural disasters from domestic and international agencies and organizations under regulations;

b/ To provide information on natural disasters to international agencies and organizations under regulations;

c/ To organize international cooperation in natural disaster prevention and control under its management;

d/ To propose the conclusion of, or accession to, treaties on natural disaster prevention and control;

dd/ To propose that the Prime Minister  calls for international assistance in natural disaster prevention and control.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the following responsibilities:

a/ To call for international assistance to respond to and for the remediation of the consequences of natural disasters in Vietnam and concurrently act as Vietnam’s focal point in providing assistance to other countries under the Government’s direction;

b/ To contact other countries and territories to provide coordinated assistance for Vietnamese people and means hit by natural disasters on the sea and in land border areas and assistance for people and means of other countries upon their request.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall assume the prime responsibility for international cooperation in the observation, assessment, forecast, warning and identification of levels of natural disaster risks in meteorological, hydrographical and oceanographic aspects and in conformity with treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party.

4. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for international cooperation in the observation, assessment and identification of levels of natural disaster risks, earthquake information and tsunami forecast and warning.

5. The National Committee for Search and Rescue shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies in, conducting international cooperation in search and rescue.

Article 41. Rights and obligations of foreign organizations and individuals and international organizations participating in the response to and remediation of the consequences of natural disasters in Vietnam

1. Foreign organizations and individuals and international organizations participating in the response to and remediation of the consequences of natural disasters in Vietnam have the following rights:

a/ To be exempted from import and export duties and fees for means, equipment and goods serving emergency relief, search and rescue, relief and support for people affected by natural disaster;

b/ To enjoy priority in entry and exit procedures, and procedures for import and export of means, equipment and goods serving search and rescue, relief and support for people affected by natural disasters;

c/ To enjoy priority in carrying out formalities for their stay.

2. Foreign organizations and individuals and international organizations participating in the response to and remediation of the consequences of natural disasters in Vietnam have the following obligations:

a/ To register their operations with competent Vietnamese agencies;

b/ To operate for the registered purposes and comply with Vietnamese law.

3. The Government shall detail this Article.