Attending the conference, there were Assoc. Prof., Dr. Bui Nhat Quang, alternate member of Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice President of VASS; Dr. Dang Minh Duc, Deputy Director of Institute for European Studies (IES); Dr. Do Ta Khanh, Director of Research Centre for European issues, IES and the attendance of delegates from several universities in South East Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia,…); scientists from research institutions and universities in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Institute of Strategy under Ministry of National Defense, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Foreign Trade University, Hanoi University of Business and Technology...), leadership institutes and research institutes under VASS.
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In the context of integration and regional connectivity in Association of South East Asian Nations in particular and worldwide in general, growing trend of cooperation in all fields in the region including collaboration in scientific research, European Union (EU) has many developed countries which were important subjects for researchers in South East Asia. In Vietnam, many researchers had been interested in European studies and also there were postgraduate institutions for European studies such as VASS and other educational institutions.
Representing the leadership of VASS, in his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Bui Nhat Quang welcomed the participation of delegates and scientists from countries in ASEAN and Vietnam. With three general functions and missions of VASS and affiliated institutes (scientific research, policy advisory and training), the Vice President acknowledged and appreciated great contributions of IES in the field of European studies – main focus of the institute during 20 years, thereby contributed to outstanding development stages and confirmed the role of VASS in the development of Vietnam.
Besides, Assoc. Prof. Bui Nhat Quang affirmed that organizing the conference was a practical and effective activity which contributed to point out the achievements in the field of European research as well as seeking information and results of partners from South East Asian countries in this field. By doing so, Mr. Vice President emphasized some issues needed focusing to study and discuss including sharing information and research results in the field of European studies (research results of IES, Vietnam and research institutions for European studies in ASEAN); deploying cooperation areas of both parties at present and in the future; exchanging and discussing about the establishment of a network of research institutions for European studies in ASEAN.
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Making the welcome speech at the conference, Dr. Dang Min Duc affirmed that the conference was an opportunity for academics and individuals from research institutes, centers and universities in the region to meet, exchange, discuss, coordinate and cooperate in order to determine significant research issues about the Europe from the perspective of academics in South East Asia; clearly stated the meaning of the conference towards the formation of a research association about the Europe in South East Asia.
There were 06 presentations in 02 panels which focused on 2 main issues:
Panel 1: Economics (Chair: Prof. Muhadi Suggiono, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia and Assistant Prof. Natthanan Kunnamas, Chulalongkorn, Thailand). Speakers (Dr. Marissa Maricosa, Ateneo de Malina University, European Studies Association of the Philippines; Dr. Hoa Huu Cuong, IES; Dr. Hendra Manurung, Faculty of International Relations, President University, Indonesia) presented contents related to EU-Philippines FTA: is it trade creating or diverting?; EU's new generation of FTA and its impacts on Vietnam; Russia interests & the effect of the Eu-Rasian Economic Union (EAEU) on global economic integration.
Panel 2: International Relations (Chair: Dr. Do Ta Khanh, Institute for European Studies, Vietnam and Dr. Marissa Maricosa, Ateneo de Malina University, European Studies Association of the Philippines). Speakers (Assistant Prof. Natthanan Kunnamas, Deputy director for Publication Affairs and Director of Interdisciplinary Department of European Studies, Chulalongkorn, Thailand; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Lich, Dean, Faculty of International Economics, Vietnam Academy of Diplomacy; Dr. Azirah Hashim and Dr. Andy Gibbs, Asia - Europe Institute and Centre for ASEAN religionalism University of Malaya) presented contents about: Does Aseanization exist?: Assessing social constructivist process through Europeanization; EU-ASEAN cooperation in the context of integration; Balanced Mobility: The AEI-ASEM Summer Camp.
The conference was the forum to usefully exchange highlights related to economics and international relations of the Europe in South East Asia; evaluate the role of EU in the Asia – Pacific strategy and ASEAN in the future…; propose ideas about potential relationship and enhancement the efficiency in the cooperation between EU and ASEAN in different fields (politics, economics, security, tourism – culture – education). Also, this was an occasion for scientists to share, connect research activities, exchange academics, organize conferences, implement joint research projects, cooperate in training and publishing, contribute to enhance the understanding about European research in ASEAN in the future.
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In the same afternoon, the delegates from South East Asian countries and Vietnam unified to establish European research networking in South East Asia with an aim to create an open forum for researchers in the region to exchange and enhance the relations. The International Conference “European Studies in Southeast Asia: Outstanding Issues” held in Hanoi was considered the first conference of the network. The next conferences would be held every two year in the first week of November. The second conference would be organized in Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines) in 2018 and the third conference would be in Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) in 2020. At the end of the conference, Dr. Do Ta Khanh completed his missions and assigned coordination role in the next conference of the network to Dr. Marissa A.Paderon, Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines.
Nguyen Thu Trang
