Veranstaltungen

Chinese Investment in Southeast Asia: pattern and geopolitical significance

Southeast Asia’s growing economic linkages with China generate political opportunities and strategic concerns in equal measure. Recent discussions have tended to focus on infrastructure projects, especially those associated with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, to gauge their significance and impacts, such projects must be understood against the broader context of Chinese investments in Southeast Asia.

European National Innovation Systems: Trends, Policies and Challenges - Lessons learned for Vietnam

International Conference

In the context of a rapidly developing knowledge economy, National Innovation Systems (NIS) can play a crucial role in the economic growth of countries. European countries have paid special attention to promoting scientific and technological innovation, enhancing the combination of scientific and technological innovation with economic growth. At the same time, they proposed strategies and policies to promote the development of NIS. Vietnam’s NIS is in the process of being finalized, so there are still many limitations such as: the policies to promote technology development in Vietnam have not been given high priority, and they have not yet been integrated into the country’s industrial, investment and trade policies. Vietnam's industrial policy pays little attention to developing domestic technological capabilities as an indispensable factor in the industrialization process. The process of commercializing innovative products is not really effective, reducing the motivation for NIS development. Against this background, on 9 Sep 2021, experts from Việt Nam and Europe gathered at an online seminar to discuss the application of the National Innovation Systems (NIS) in Việt Nam, a new concept that could bring profound effects. The seminar was co-organized by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Vietnam Office and Institute for European Studies/VASS.

The 7th Ocean Dialogue

Emerging Maritime Issues from Legal Perspectives

The seventh dialogue with the theme of evaluating arising sea-related issues from the perspective of international law has recently been held virtually, drawing over 250 domestic and foreign experts, as well as delegates from foreign representative agencies in Hanoi and the media. The event was jointly organised by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), the British Embassy in Vietnam and the Kondras Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS). In his opening speech, Deputy Director of the DAV Dr. Nguyen Hung Son said the academy wants to promote dialogues on emerging legal issues to raise public awareness of and reach consensus on the interpretation and application of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thereby laying a foundation for marine cooperation activities in the region. The organisers hoped that via the dialogue, parties will offer initiatives in line with international law to promote cooperation in the field, he said. British Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Marcus Winsley highlighted the 1982 UNCLOS as a foundation for ocean governance. The UK considers freedom of navigation as the most important as its trade with Asia relies on key marine routes in the region, he said. The UK also shares the same concern with countries, especially Pacific island nations, over the sea level rise, the diplomat said. Florian Constantin Feyerabend, from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation, affirmed that Germany always considers safety and freedom of maritime trade routes as common important benefits, supports rules-based order at sea and pledges to protect international law. Participants at the event shared the impacts of the sea level rise on coastal nations in the region and the world. They underscored the importance of ensuring the stability of international law and suggested measures and scenarios to cope with the sea level rise from national, regional and international perspectives. According to them, freedom, safety and security of navigation have been stipulated in important international conventions such as the 1982 UNCLOS and guidelines within the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Scholars expressed their interest in the East Sea and concerns over marine claims that run counter to the 1982 UNCLOS and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)'s ruling on the Philippines' lawsuit in 2016. They stressed need to continue maintaining rules-based order at sea in the Indo-Pacific and suggested ASEAN reach common consensus on rights to travelling at sea. Via seven editions of the dialogue, the DAV published quality publications about fishing cooperation, marine governance in the East Sea, dealing with plastic wastes, enhancing ASEAN cooperation in the East Sea, and the European Union’s sustainable development experience./.

PRIORITIES AND OUTLOOK FOR CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY FROM PRESENT TO THE 2OTH PARTY CONGRESS

China Talk 17

Over the last 5 years, KAS Vietnam has been supporting its partner – Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam organized the China Talk series, and this is now the 17th China Talk with the topic is “Priorities and outlook for China's foreign policy from present to the 20th Party Congress“. This topic was selected in the context that China's communist party is preparing for its 20th Party Congress at the end of the 2022 with multiple issues of interest related to the economy, the pandemic, the relation with the US and their partners… But there is also the question of Xi Jinping's leadership and the question of a possible succession. The main speaker for China talk 17 is Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, Australia. Richard McGregor is an award-winning journalist and author of many valuable publications. Richard is also known as an expert on China’s political system and the workings and structure of the communist party. The two commentators provided insightful comments over the topic are: 1. Mr. Ewan Lawson, former Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and 2. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Director, Centre for International Studies (SCIS), University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University ‐ Ho Chi Minh City. Moderator of the event is Dr Le Dinh Tinh, Director General, Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. For the first time, a China Talk has to run completely virtual. Still, it received more than hundred online participants. China Talk series is always one of the greatest joint activities between KAS Vietnam and Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and it showed that learning and understanding about China seems to be the never ending. The China Talk 18 is expected to be organized in October 2021.

5th German-Asian Business Dialogue

In Asien wird über die Zukunft der internationalen Ordnung entschieden

Dieser Bericht ist nur auf englisch verfügbar. Bitte wechseln Sie in die englische Sprache über das Menü oben.

The 15th China Talk

Understanding China’s Role in Contemporary Southeast Asia

In the Southeast Asian region, China, on the one hand, is the largest trading partner for most Asean countries. However, on the other hand, China is considered as the biggest challenge for ASEAN countries in relation to security, including but not limited to the South China Sea’s disputes, Mekong water’s sources, etc… China’s assertiveness affected not only ASEAN countries, but also peace and stability in the entire region. This Covid time again proves the dependence of the world to China, from foods, medicines to Chinese tourists, raw materials, etc… Southeast Asian countries are among top affected since China is their biggest export market as well as the raw material importing. In other words, Southeast Asian countries are in the horns of a dilemma: they want to have bigger voice against China in security related issues but while still rely too much on China economically. The topic made by Prof. Hiebert was captured from his latest book published in August 2020 - Under Beijing's Shadow: Southeast Asia's China Challenge – which provides a snapshot of ten countries in Southeast Asia by exploring their diverse experiences with China and how this impacts their perceptions of Beijing’s actions and its long-term political, economic, military, and “soft power” goals in the region. Commentators from the talk also shared the view by determining that it is impossible to have a general theoretical framework [in relation with China] that apply for all ASEAN countries since they are very diverse. Loving and hating are in parallel and that national interest of each country will drive their strategy toward China./.