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./.

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

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Synthesizing and Approving the Final Accounts of Provincial Budget

Experts share experiences in verifying and approving local budget

The National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Committee and KAS Vietnam jointly organize a seminar to arm officials of People’s Councils and People’s Committee in the Northern region with the skills in synthesizing and approving the final accounts of provincial budget.

Training seminar

Criminal Liability of Legal Entities

The criminal liability of commercial legal persons is new [to many countries not only Vietnam, as before, it was considered as administrative sanctions only] but a compulsory regulation in legal system, particularly in the time of rapid, complicated and integrated economic development for both Vietnam and other countries in the world. Vietnam, a rapid developing country, a destination for many foreign investors, a social oriented market economy…thus enhancing legal system to timely prevent and counter violated acts committed by commercial legal person is a Must. Given that, today, 30 September 2020, KAS Vietnam in collaboration with The Criminal and Administrative Legislation Department, Ministry of Justice co-organised a training seminar on “Raising awareness of law enforcement officers on criminal liability of legal entities in criminal law”. Speaking at opening remarks, Mr. Peter Girke, KAS Country Representative highly appreciated Vietnam’s political will in enhancement of the national legal framework and also applauded Vietnam as one of pioneers in criminalization liability of legal entities. Peter Girke also shared that in Germany, a criminal verdict is tied to the ethical question of whether an individual’s conduct presents an autonomous decision to violate rules and duties. There is a basic assumption that only individuals can take such autonomous decisions. Therefore, only individuals can be held liable for their behavior. However, that does not mean that legal entities would get away with it entirely in Germany. Where the German Criminal Code would hinder prosecution of legal persons, still the individuals acting on behalf of that legal person would be held liable instead – which, however, may be difficult for example if several individuals worked in a collective at a company. More than 100 participants coming from different law enforcement agencies from central to provincial levels, including prosecutors, judges and polices shall have full day for sharing their practical experiences, difficulties and challenges in their work. This activity is under the umbrella of the big program State Rules of Law which was agreed by the two governments Vietnam and Germany. Mr. Do Duc Hien, Director General, The Department of Administrative and Criminal Legislation showed his gratitude to KAS continuous support to MOJ over the years and hope that this seminar training will help providing knowledge and information that benefit for all practitioners.

International Relations in The Asia-Pacific Region: The Role of the EU and the Us

The EU and the US’s Asia-Pacific Policies: Expectation of ASEAN and the Region

KAS Vietnam and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities successfully organized the workshop entitled “International Relations in the Asia-Pacific Region: the role of the EU and the US” on September 29th. Speakers at the workshop were Deputy Head and First Counsellor of the EU Delegation - Mrs. Axelle Nicaise, German Ambassador to Vietnam - Dr. Guido Hildner, the USA Embassy’s Political Counselor - Mr. Noah Zaring, Head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ European Department - Mr. Dinh Toan Thang and Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam’s Strategic Institute - Dr. Le Dinh Tinh.