Chương VII Luật Tài nguyên nước 2023: Hợp tác quốc tế về tài nguyên nước

Chapter VII

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN WATER RESOURCES

Article 75. Principles of international cooperation in water resources

1. Respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate interests of countries sharing water sources.

2. Ensure fairness and reasonableness during protection, exploitation, use and development of water sources, prevention of, response to and recovery from damage caused by water to transboundary water sources.

3. Do not inflict harm to legitimate rights and interests of countries sharing water sources in conformity with treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

4. Comply with Vietnam’s laws, international agreements and treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

5. Protect, exploit, use and develop transboundary water sources so as to optimally and sustainably protect benefits brought by water sources, taking into account the interests of countries sharing water sources.

6. Take appropriate precautions to minimize damage caused by water to countries sharing water sources in the course of using transboundary water sources belonging to the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Article 76. Details about international cooperation in water resources

1. Proactively and actively cooperating with countries, foreign and international water resources organizations, prioritizing the protection and sustainable development of water resources, human resource training, scientific research, prevention of, response to and recovery of damage caused by water to ensure water security.

2. Proactively and actively cooperating in exchanging information and data on the status and forecasts of water resources, hydrometeorology, hydrogeology and ecology, and water quality related to transboundary water sources; cooperating in conducting research and formulating planning for protection, exploitation and use of transboundary water sources; preventing, responding to and recovering damage caused by water to transboundary water sources; facilitating the management, protection and sustainable development of water resources and execution of projects related to transboundary water sources. If information or date is related to a state secret, regulations of law on protection of state secrets shall be complied with.

3. Proactively and actively participating in, making substantive contribution to, researching and proposing new ideas and initiatives on water resources at regional and international organizations, forums, and relevant international river basin organizations to promote cooperation, sustainable exploitation, use and development and ensure transboundary water security.

Article 77. Responsibility for protecting rights and interests of Vietnam regarding transboundary water sources

1. Organizations and individuals shall protect Vietnam’s rights and interests related to transboundary water sources according to regulations of this Law, other regulations of Vietnamese law and international agreements and treaties related to water resources to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall monitor, supervise, receive and consolidate information about status of transboundary water sources, provide forecasts and warning about adverse impacts and promptly report them to and request the Government and the Prime Minister to deal with the issue to protect rights and interests of Vietnam.

3. People's Committees at all levels in border areas with transboundary water sources shall, upon detecting unusual issues concerning flow, water level and quality of water sources in areas under their management, report them to the superior People's Committees; provincial People's Committees shall report them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Article 78. Resolution of disputes and disagreement about transboundary water sources

Disputes and disagreement related to water resources between Vietnam and countries and territories sharing water sources shall be resolved on the basis of the principles set forth in Article 75 of this Law, by peaceful means and in conformity with international agreements and treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

Any dispute or disagreement related to transboundary water sources occurring in a river basin for which an international river basin organization has been set up with the participation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam must be also resolved according to the regulations imposed by that international river basin organization.