CDLAF – AEF (2026): Article 2: From the Spirit of Cooperation to Legal Trust in the Global Economy

1. From the Spirit of Cooperation to the Question of Trust

In the previous article, we addressed the need to build a reliable institutional foundation so that new growth drivers can be translated into sustainable value. Building on that perspective, the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026) raises a practical question: what enables opportunities for international cooperation to move beyond the commitment stage and into practice?

Cooperation usually begins with shared objectives and expectations of benefit. However, when the parties belong to different legal systems and business environments, agreement on objectives does not necessarily mean that they share the same understanding of rights, obligations and responsibilities.

From a legal perspective, goodwill is a condition for beginning cooperation, but it is not sufficient to sustain a long-term relationship. Trust needs to be built on clear commitments, identifiable legal limits, and a mechanism for handling situations in which reality departs from initial expectations.

2. Trust Does Not Come from Goodwill Alone

The parties may agree on objectives yet differ in how they understand performance. One party may consider that it has fulfilled its obligations by delivering the product on schedule, while the other may require that the product fully meet the agreed standards. Similarly, jointly developing a technology does not necessarily mean that the parties agree on ownership of, and the right to exploit, the results.

These differences do not necessarily stem from a lack of goodwill. They may arise from matters that were not clarified at the outset.

Policy orientation helps businesses identify development trends; the law establishes the relevant rights, obligations and limits; and the contract gives concrete form to the parties’ commitments within the scope permitted by law. Distinguishing among these elements helps businesses avoid confusing expectations about the business environment with the legal bases required to carry out a transaction.

3. When a Cooperation Agreement Is Put into Practice

Consider a hypothetical scenario: a Vietnamese technology company cooperates with a foreign partner to develop supply chain management software. The two parties agree on objectives and resources, but have not clarified the rights to improvements, the scope of use of customer data, or responsibility when the product fails to meet requirements.

When the project incurs additional costs or begins to be exploited commercially, assumptions on which the parties never agreed may become conflicting expectations. From this scenario, legal trust can be examined through three aspects.

First, commitments must be clear enough to be performed. The scope of work, schedule, acceptance standards, payment terms and each party’s responsibilities should be defined in a manner appropriate to the project. The contract helps convert shared objectives into specific obligations, creating a basis on which the parties can assess performance of their commitments.

Second, rights and limits of use must be defined. In technology cooperation, the parties need to clarify rights over intellectual property, pre-existing technology and the results created. With respect to customer data, sharing and use should be consistent with the purpose, scope and relevant legal conditions. These matters directly affect the ability to exploit the results of cooperation and help limit disputes later on.

Third, disagreements need a basis for resolution. No agreement can anticipate every situation. The parties should consider negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court mechanisms suited to the transaction and the applicable law. The ability to allocate responsibility and resolve disagreements gives the relationship a basis on which to continue even when problems arise.

4. The Legal Framework and the Responsibilities of the Parties

Legal trust is formed through the combination of the institutional framework and the way the parties perform their commitments.

The State needs to establish and enforce rules that are transparent, predictable and consistent. This enables businesses and investors to better assess the conditions, responsibilities and risks of cooperation.

Conversely, the parties need to proactively define their rights and obligations, study the applicable regulations and satisfy the conditions required by law. A sound legal framework does not automatically guarantee a project’s success, just as a detailed agreement cannot replace mandatory legal requirements.

The law does not eliminate every risk, but it creates a basis on which the parties can determine their rights, allocate responsibilities and resolve disagreements according to foreseeable principles.

5. From Trust to Sustainable Cooperation

In the spirit of cooperation that AEF 2026 raises, the value of an investment opportunity lies not only in the initial commitment but also in the ability to sustain a responsible cooperative relationship.

When the State builds a reliable legal framework and businesses proactively turn goodwill into clear commitments, trust has a basis on which to be maintained throughout the cooperation.

However, clear commitments are only the starting point. For cooperation opportunities to create real value, the parties must also satisfy requirements relating to procedures, resources, governance and coordination capacity during implementation.

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You can refer for more information:

• • CDLAF – AEF (2026): Article 1: New Growth Drivers Need a Trusted Legal Foundation
  • Mechanism For Disputes Settlement, Protection Of Interests And Divestment Of Minority Shareholders
  • Arbitrability: Notes For Enterprises When Choosing Arbitration As A Dispute Resolution Mechanism
  • Defective Arbitration Clause: Handling Guidelines And Solutions For Enterprises
  • Validity of Arbitration Agreements: Notes for Enterprises