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As part of its working visit to Singapore on the occasion of Singapore Convention Week 2026 (SCW 2026), the delegation of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) attended several key programmes of the SCW 2026, while also engaging in extensive networking and discussions with representatives of government authorities, arbitration and mediation institutions, arbitrators, mediators, legal professionals and the international dispute resolution practitioners.
From 24 to 28 August 2026, Singapore Convention Week 2026 (SCW 2026), hosted by Singapore Ministry of Law, officially took place in Singapore, bringing together numerous representatives from government authorities, arbitration institutions, the legal profession, and dispute resolution experts from various countries and jurisdictions. Under the theme “Timeless Principles, Timely Solutions: Nurturing Trust in a Changing World,” SCW 2026 focused on reinforcing the core values of the rule of law, justice, and trust, while promoting solutions responsive to the rapid developments in cross-border commerce, technology, and dispute resolution practices.
VIAC Participates in UNCITRAL Academy – The flagship event of Singapore Convention Week 2026
On 25 August 2026, the VIAC delegation attended a flagship event of SCW 2026, the UNCITRAL Academy Conference and Industry Capacity-Building Workshop, jointly organised by the Singapore Ministry of Law and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). This year’s programme carried particular significance as it coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of UNCITRAL and the 200th years of Singapore's modern judicial and legal system (SGLaw200).
At the opening of the programme, Mr. Edwin Tong SC – Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs of Singapore, and Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret – Secretary of UNCITRAL, both underscored the need for legal systems and dispute resolution mechanisms to adapt to the rapid pace of technological change. Against this backdrop, a central message of this year’s UNCITRAL Academy emerged: innovation can only be meaningful when underpinned by trust, transparency, and the fundamental standards of justice.
The discussions explored this issue from multiple perspectives, ranging from building trust in an increasingly AI-influenced legal environment to the potential application of technology in commercial arbitration, commercial mediation, and cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms. Technology was viewed as a tool capable of enhancing the efficiency of information processing, supporting decision-making, and expanding access to justice. At the same time, it presents new requirements concerning professional ethics, accountability, and appropriate governance frameworks.
Overview of the UNCITRAL Academy Event at Singapore Convention Week 2026
Notably, alongside discussions on the potential of AI, the programme also placed significant emphasis on the human element in dispute resolution. Key professional capabilities, including expertise, experience, the ability to understand the parties’ interests, and the capacity to navigate complex legal and commercial issues. continue to be recognised as values that are difficult to replace. In this regard, UNCITRAL Academy 2026 demonstrated that the development of dispute resolution does not lie in choosing between technology and people, but in finding an effective model that combines technological innovation with the core values of the legal profession and justice.
Strengthening Connections Amid Deepening Vietnam – Singapore Relations
On the sidelines of UNCITRAL Academy, Mr. Vu Anh Duong – Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of VIAC, had the opportunity to meet with, greet, and exchange views with Minister Edwin Tong SC on the connections between VIAC and Singapore’s legal and dispute resolution community.
These exchanges took place against the backdrop of the Vietnam – Singapore relationship being elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, with the two countries aiming to become leading strategic technology partners in Southeast Asia, as highlighted during the official visit to Singapore by Mr. Tran Cam Tu – Politburo Member and Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, on 25 August 2026. Economic and investment cooperation remains one of the prominent pillars of bilateral relations. Singapore is currently among the largest foreign investors in Vietnam, with investment flows spanning a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, finance, technology, and infrastructure development. The expansion of investment projects and cross-border transactions is also generating growing demand for a stable legal environment and effective commercial dispute resolution mechanisms capable of meeting the needs of international investors.
In recent years, VIAC has progressively expanded its cooperation with partners in Singapore. As part of Vietnam ADR Week 2026, VIAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) to promote professional exchanges and strengthen institutional connections between the two arbitration centres. VIAC has also established cooperation with the Singapore Business Association in Vietnam (SingCham), with a view to supporting the Singaporean business community in enhancing awareness of legal risk management, as well as dispute prevention and resolution in the course of investment and business activities in Vietnam.
In addition, Vietnam – Singapore relations have recently witnessed further progress in legal and judicial cooperation. These developments provide a favourable foundation for further promoting the exchange of professional knowledge and experience between dispute resolution institutions and the legal communities of the two countries, particularly in areas relating to cross-border commercial disputes, the recognition and enforcement of awards, commercial mediation, and the development of dispute resolution mechanisms responsive to the needs of international investment activities.
Earlier, on 24 August 2026, the VIAC delegation attended SIAC Symposium 2026, organised by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) at Shangri-La Singapore. As one of SIAC’s flagship annual conferences, the Symposium brought together a wide range of representatives from the international arbitration community, providing a forum for discussions on emerging developments in arbitral practice, users’ expectations, and the evolving demands placed on arbitral institutions amid continued changes in international trade.
Alongside the participation of SIAC representatives in Vietnam ADR Week 2026, VIAC’s attendance at SIAC Symposium 2026 further reflected the two institutions’ continued engagement with and support for each other’s key activities, particularly following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between VIAC and SIAC in the first half of 2026. These activities contribute to strengthening the exchange of experience, fostering connections between the Vietnamese and Singaporean professional communities, and laying a foundation for the two institutions to further develop their cooperation through professional initiatives in the future.
During Singapore Convention Week 2026, the VIAC delegation also had the opportunity to meet, exchange views, and strengthen connections with arbitrators and mediators from VIAC and the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC), while engaging with international legal professionals from a range of jurisdictions.
These meetings provided an opportunity for VIAC to briefly share recent developments in Vietnam’s legal environment and dispute resolution practice, including new developments in arbitration and mediation, as well as the VIAC Arbitration Rules 2026. Through these exchanges, VIAC continued to maintain its connections with the international professional community, exchange perspectives on emerging market trends, and strengthen its professional network in support of increasingly diverse and cross-border disputes.
VIAC’s participation in UNCITRAL Academy, SIAC Symposium, and other activities held as part of Singapore Convention Week 2026 further demonstrates a clear step forward in its efforts to expand its regional and international presence. Beyond participating in major professional forums, VIAC is progressively strengthening its connections with arbitral institutions, professional communities, and international partners. These efforts reinforce the increasingly proactive role of a Vietnamese arbitration institution within the regional dispute resolution network, while contributing to raising the profile of Vietnam on the international arbitration and ADR map.
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