(VOVworld) - Vietnam has officially recognized the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Netherlands as having binding authority to settle international disputes over a wide range of legal issues. The official acknowledgement was ceremoniously celebrated at a signing ceremony in Hanoi on Monday at which Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and PCA Secretary General Hugo Siblesz signed the Host Country Agreement and Exchange Letters on Cooperation between Vietnam and PCA.

The court’s jurisdiction includes the resolution of disputes arising from international treaties and other agreements to arbitrate, including those over territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment (investor-state arbitrations), and matters concerning international and regional trade. Signing the Exchange Letters on Cooperation, Vietnam will receive PCA’s assistance in legal official training and the PCA will provide the Vietnamese government with information and consultancy on procedure matters under PCA’s authority. After the signing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received PCA Secretary General Hugo Siblesz. Minh expressed his hope that the signing of the the Host Country Agreement and Exchange Letters on Cooperation between Vietnam and PCA would help enhance bilateral cooperation.

PAC – an inter-governmental organisation with 115 member countries – was established in 1899 according to the Hague Convention to deal with the resolution of disputes by peaceful solutions. Vietnam joined the convention on December 29, 2011.