THÔNG BÁO

VỀ VIỆC ĐIỀU ƯỚC QUỐC TẾ CÓ HIỆU LỰC

Thực hiện quy định của Luật Ký kết, gia nhập và thực hiện điều ước quốc tế năm 2005, Bộ Ngoại giao trân trọng thông báo:

Hiệp định giữa Chính phủ nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam và Thụy Điển về hợp tác phát triển giai đoạn 2012 - 2013, ký tại Hà Nội ngày 13 tháng 7 năm 2012, có hiệu lực kể từ ngày 13 tháng 7 năm 2012.

Bộ Ngoại giao trân trọng gửi Bản sao Hiệp định theo quy định tại Điều 68 của Luật nêu trên./.

AGREEMENT

BETWEEN SWEDEN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ON DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION 2012-2013

Sweden, represented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as Vietnam), represented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, have agreed as follows.

ARTICLE 1. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE AGREEMENT

Following the rapid progress and development of Vietnam the Swedish Government has decided that the existing regular development cooperation with Vietnam will be phased out during 2009-2013. During this phasing out period Selective Cooperation will be introduced. This cooperation shall be seen as a bridge between the regular development cooperation and other broader, more equal relations based on mutual interests between stakeholders in the two countries. One of the purposes of the Selective cooperation, where Partner driven cooperation is to form the major part, is thus to strengthen relations between stakeholders in the two countries that could be sustained beyond development cooperation support. Limited development cooperation funds will be used to promote such relations during the phasing out period.

The objectives of this Agreement on Development Cooperation are:

• To promote enhanced Democratic governance and increased respect for Human rights

• To promote Vietnam’s environmentally sustainable development

ARTICLE 2. THE SWEDISH CONTRIBUTION

Sweden shall keep available financial resources for development cooperation between Sweden and Vietnam during the period 1 January 2012-31 December 2013. As for the contribution of financial resources, Sweden shall keep available at least one hundred and forty million Swedish kronor (SEK 140 000 000). The contribution of resources shall be made in accordance with the requirements laid down in specific agreements between the parties on projects/programmes of development cooperation, and shall be made available on a grant basis.

Swedish support may be extended to partners outside the Government sphere such as civil society and the private sector. Such support, as well as funds necessary for Sweden to follow up the development cooperation, falls outside the scope of financial resources of this Agreement. Research cooperation will also be supported for the period 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2012 but within the scope of this agreement through an agreement signed by the parties on 16 June 2008. Sweden may also finance development cooperation in other areas such as humanitarian assistance and concessional credits and soft loans using other resources than those provided in this Agreement.

ARTICLE 3. UTILISATION OF THE SWEDISH CONTRIBUTION

The main areas of cooperation shall be the following:

• Democracy and Human rights

• Anti-corruption

• Environment and climate change

The parties to this agreement recognize the importance of taking all necessary precautions to avoid corrupt practices. Both parties will maintain standards of conduct that govern the performance of its staff, including the prohibition of corrupt practices in connection with procurement and the award and administration of contracts, grants or other benefits.

ARTICLE 4. FOLLOW-UP

Sweden and Vietnam shall meet to follow-up the Swedish contribution and the progress of the development cooperation projects and programmes as and when required, but not less than once a year.

The parties shall regularly review the allocation of contributed funds to projects/programmes of the development cooperation.

ARTICLE 5. DIALOGUE

The key issues for overall policy dialogue between the Parties shall be the main areas of cooperation as described in Article three of this Agreement when implemented through programmes and projects as well as the process of phasing out the regular development cooperation in a sustainable way and introducing the selective cooperation between Sweden and Vietnam.

ARTICLE 6. UNDERTAKINGS BY VIETNAM

The main responsibility for the development and phasing out of the regular development cooperation projects and programmes under this Agreement rests with Vietnam. The role of Sweden is limited to the contribution to and follow up of resources to such development cooperation.

The responsibility for the development of the projects under the Selective cooperation, in particular the Partner driven cooperation, rests with the project partners in question.

ARTICLE 7. UNDERTAKINGS BY SWEDEN

Sweden undertakes to submit reports to Vietnam, quarterly, on disbursements made by Sweden to projects and programmes financed under this Agreement, including any amount administered by Sweden on behalf of any other donor agency or government.

ARTICLE 8. REFERENCES TO OTHER AGREEMENTS

The development cooperation between the Parties is also governed by:

- the Agreement on General Terms and Conditions for Development Cooperation between the Government of Sweden and the Government of Vietnam, dated 25 October 2001 and extended 8 May 2007; and

- specific agreements for projects/programmes of development cooperation.

ARTICLE 9. ENTRY INTO FORCE AND TERMINATION

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signing and remain valid until 31 December 2013. The Agreement may be terminated prior to the end of the agreement period by either party giving the other party at least six months written notice.

The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any specific agreements that are in force between the Parties.

Two originals of the text of this Agreement, written in the English language, have been signed.