Portugal and Southeast Asia: Historical and Contemporary Connections

Attending the presentation were Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University), Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Rector of the University), Dr. Andrew Hardy (Director of the French School of Far Eastern Studies), along with many scientists and students from the university.

Professor Paulo Castro Seixas is an anthropologist and sociologist at the University of Lisbon. He is interested in researching policy, urban areas, and territories from an anthropological perspective. His presentation discussed the current state of Southeast Asian studies in Portugal.

Professor Paulo Castro Seixas

Portugal is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost country in Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and Spain to the east and north. Portugal was one of the first European nations to set foot in Asia and has a particularly long-standing relationship with Southeast Asia dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1513, Portugal first arrived in China, and in 1516, in Vietnam. In 1957, the Chinese government officially recognized the Portuguese presence in Macau. Portugal was also the last colonial power to leave Asia, returning Macau to China in 1999.

Professor Paulo Castro Seixas stated that Portuguese research on Southeast Asia is quite limited, focusing primarily on countries in East Asia. In the early stages of history, these studies were heavily descriptive, lacking in-depth analysis, and primarily served administrative purposes, including information on the region's anthropology, politics, and religion.

In the 19th century, Portugal began its colonial rule in Southeast Asia, leading to a need for in-depth research in physical anthropology, political anthropology, and the relations between different ethnic groups to serve colonial rule and administrative management. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Portuguese began to show greater interest in studying Eastern cultures, especially literature. After 1999, research on Southeast Asia revolved around two main focuses: Macau and East Timor.

The focus of interest in Southeast Asia has also shifted from historical, linguistic, and cultural studies to fields such as international relations and economics. In fact, each research center in Portugal has different interests in Southeast Asia. Some centers specialize in history, while others focus on economics and development. The Institute of Oriental Studies, School of Political and Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, focuses on political issues, international relations, and public administration. Other centers are interested in comparative studies in the fields of culture and language.

Portuguese universities currently offer Master's programs in Oriental Studies, Eurasian Relations, and other related fields. These programs are supported and developed in collaboration with several foreign organizations, such as the Confucius Institute (China). East Timor, Macau, and China are among the top topics of interest in theses and dissertations on Southeast Asia. Research topics include: the impact of Macau's return to China, the self-determination and state-building of East Timor, and more.

In Vietnam, Portuguese missionaries left their mark by contributing to the creation of the Vietnamese alphabet, spreading Christianity, and building churches with unique architectural features that have become cultural heritage sites of Vietnam…

Professor Paulo Castro Seixas' presentation was considered to have "awakened" a great deal of knowledge related to the historical relationship between Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the world. The speaker also received many questions from the audience about: the Portuguese influence on Vietnamese history and culture; the current situation regarding the exploitation and use of archival materials on Southeast Asian history and culture in Portuguese archives; and Portugal's current policy towards Southeast Asia.