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Friday - January 5, 2024 04:40
The project was implemented over 3 years and has achieved valuable research results.
“The EU’s Approach to Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: From Strategy to Practice” is a project jointly conducted by the Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Vietnam (KSA). The project aims to explore the European Union’s (EU) approach to cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and its impact on countries in the region.
According to VNU-USSH scientists, the Indo-Pacific region is a region that includes many important and comprehensive partners of the European Union and its member states. The European Union Council's Conclusion on the EU's Cooperation Strategy in the Indo-Pacific region issued in April 2021 affirmed that the EU needs to increase its presence and actions in this region, contributing to stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development here, based on the promotion of democracy, national law and international law. The increased interest and presence in the Indo-Pacific region of the EU and its member states will bring about changes, affecting the security structure and international relations in this region that is receiving a lot of attention. This is also Vietnam's direct international relations environment, where our country's strategic relationships and most important partners are located. Therefore, research on international relations in the region in general and the approaches of major countries and important international entities such as the EU is extremely necessary. Grasping these rapid changes, the research project on "The EU's Approach to the Indo-Pacific Region: From Strategy to Practice" has been implemented in three phases and achieved a number of valuable results.
The project will be implemented over 3 years from 2021 with many scientific seminars organized.
The first phase of the study, completed in 2021 and the second phase completed in 2022, provided a relatively comprehensive picture of the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy, the views of some member states and France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the initial views of some important actors in the region and Vietnam on this strategy. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic globally and especially the conflict in Ukraine, the regional and global security, political and economic situation has undergone many changes. In that context, the prospect of implementing the EU's cooperation strategy in the Indo-Pacific region faces certain difficulties and challenges, and countries are forced to make appropriate adjustments. Therefore, phase 3 of the study focuses on analyzing the impacts of the changing context on the EU's cooperation strategy in the Indo-Pacific region and the prospects for cooperation in the security, diplomatic and economic fields in this region.
Scientific exchange activities between the Faculty of International Studies and KAS Vietnam have been held regularly.
Sharing the research results of this project, Mr. Florian Feyerabend - Chief Representative of KAS Vietnam said that the Indo-Pacific has become the geopolitical center of attraction of the 21st century. This is a region geographically distant from the European Union. But this is a region of fundamental importance for both the prosperity and security of the European Union. The EU's strategy for the Indo-Pacific recognizes the geostrategic and geopolitical importance of the Indo-Pacific region and Southeast Asia in particular. The strategy also recognizes that countries in the region refuse to choose, and therefore the EU provides avenues for cooperation that are not based on taking sides. I believe that Vietnam welcomes the EU's strategy for the Indo-Pacific region, as it offers an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between Vietnam on the one hand and the European Union on the other, and thus also creates an opportunity for Vietnam to preserve its strategic autonomy in a challenging geopolitical environment. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang - Head of the Department of Development Studies, Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU said that unlike the Indo-Pacific strategies of other countries, such as the US and Japan, Europe's interests in the region are much more normative. The EU's emphasis on normative aspects of peaceful and rule-based order that can preserve stability and multilateralism is beneficial to Vietnam and the EU's approach is in line with Vietnam's expectations. Therefore, Vietnam appreciates the strong and constructive role of the EU and its members in the region based on their support for the important role of ASEAN as well as promoting the rule of law and cooperation in the region. Moreover, the EU's positive stance on non-confrontational cooperation is welcomed by all partner countries.
KAS representatives had a working session with the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in November 2022 on strengthening cooperation in the fields of training and scientific research between the two units.
Konrad_Adenauer-Stiftungis a German political foundation. Operating in Vietnam since 1993, KAS, together with its partners, is committed to enhancing democratic institutions, building a rule-of-law state, a market economy, a sustainable society, as well as regional and international integration. Through cooperative activities such as conferences, seminars, training, research, and publications, KAS hopes to contribute to the sustainable economic, political and social development of Vietnam, promoting international cooperation and mutual understanding. Over the years, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU has implemented cooperation activities in training and research with KAS.
