Presenting the draft on behalf of the Prime Minister at the committee's fourth session in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang said the legislation is urgently needed to institutionalize the Communist Party of Vietnam's policies on safeguarding the nation from an early stage and from afar, advancing science, technology and innovation, and promoting proactive international integration.
The bill also aims to fulfill Vietnam's commitments under international treaties on WMD non-proliferation.
The draft law incorporates international standards on targeted financial sanctions, asset freezes and measures to prevent designated individuals and organizations from accessing funds, assets or financial services.
Compliance with these standards is expected to enhance Vietnam's credibility in international trade, investment and financial transactions while strengthening the country's legal and financial systems.
The bill establishes a unified mechanism to manage and control activities that could contribute to the proliferation of WMD, while safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.
It is also designed to avoid creating overlapping administrative procedures for lawful research, investment, production, trade, import-export activities and financial transactions.
Its scope extends beyond weapons and military materials to include goods, materials, equipment, software, technologies, services and other activities that could potentially be exploited to develop or spread weapons of mass destruction.
Reviewing the draft, the National Assembly's Committee for National Defense, Security and External Relations recommended further clarifying the scope of data collection, defining the responsibilities of agencies for updating, sharing and using information, and ensuring interoperability with national and sectoral databases to avoid duplication of investment.
The draft law is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration at an extraordinary session scheduled for August.
