The Mekong Forum 1

The changing geopolitical landscape in the Mekong and its implications for sub-regional countries

On 19 January, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Vietnam and Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam successfully organized the first edition of the Mekong Forum with the theme “The changing geopolitical landscape in the Mekong and its implications for sub-regional countries ". This forum has connected domestic researchers and diplomats with international scholars in the research field on the Mekong. High on the agenda of this forum is to (i) discuss the do’s list of Mekong’s lower riparian nations, (ii) analyze the Mekong’s unique geopolitics, (iii) emerging trends in the Mekong.

The 13th South China Sea International Conference:

Looking back to a brighter future

The South China Sea International Conference (#SCSC) is a premium annual regional security forum focusing on SCS issues and ocean governance. This year, the event will be paneled by around 40 high-profile speakers and prominent experts who will be joined by an audience of hundreds of on-site and online participants. They are senior officials, members of diplomatic corps, business executives, leading scholars and academics and informed public throughout the world. The conference will provide participants with an unique opportunity to comprehensively analyse the state of affairs of the SCS and beyond, discuss measures to promote maritime cooperation and explore pathways towards the enhancement of #security and #prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. More can be found at: https://scsc13.nghiencuubiendong.vn/

National Policies and International Relations under Covid19 in Southeast Asia and Beyond

Times of Uncertainty

On November 16, KAS Vietnam and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities co-organised a seminar introducing the book entitled National Policy and International Relations under the Covid 19 in Southeast Asia and Beyond. Apart from reviewing main content of the book which is to be published by German Publishing House Nomos Verlag, the seminar discussed the impacts of the pandemic on regional cooperation, ASEAN and multilateral institutions. The hybrid event attracted about 100 participants online and onsite.

Course Dissemination - Discourse Analysis

Interpreting Vietnam's Foreign Policy Conveyed in Speeches in the ASEAN and ASEAN related Summits through Lenses of Discourse Analysis

On November 5, in Ha Noi, in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Viet Nam, Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam held a seminar on the dissemination of a course titled “Interpreting Vietnam's Foreign Policy Conveyed in Speeches in the ASEAN and ASEAN related Summits through Lenses of Discourse Analysis”, a discourse analysis module in English pragmatics.

One Year Implementation of EVFTA- Impacts on Vietnamese Economy and Policy Formation

Launching workshop

On November 3 KAS Vietnam and VEPR co-organized the workshop on One Year Implementing EVFTA- Impact on Vietnamese Economy and Policy Formation.

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Global Supply Chains and Policy Implication for Vietnam

COVID-19 and the Global Supply Chains

Though the pandemic has seriously impacted the world and Việt Nam, it has accelerated the supply chain shift by diversifying, regionalizing the production chain and scaling up global value chains

The 10th Anniversary of Vietnam - Germany Strategic Partnership

A seminar has been co-held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership (October 2011 – 2021). It provided a forum for Vietnam and Germany to look back on what they have achieved over the last 10 years, identify opportunities and challenges in the coming time for both sides to deepen their strategic ties, and make policy recommendations on bilateral cooperation, thus contributing to the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for the 2022 – 2023 period. In his opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung said the establishment of the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership marked a milestone in the two countries’ relations. After a decade, the two nations have made significant progress in many areas and there is still plenty of room for the bilateral ties to thrive further, he said. Economic cooperation has become a main pillar in the bilateral ties as Germany remains Vietnam’s top trade partner in the EU while Vietnam has evolved into Germany’s largest trade partner in Southeast Asia. They have also made various achievements in other major areas, such as education, cultural-social affairs and development cooperation. Germany has also donated nearly 3.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and tonnes of medical supplies to aid Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight, he said, noting that it demonstrates the growing friendship between the two countries

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./.