"The Maritime Silk Road" and international relations in the South China Sea: Current status and prospects.

The International Conference, held at the Hilton Hotel on November 26th and 27th, attracted the attention of many scholars from both within and outside the country, as well as the press.

The scientific conference was attended by high-ranking leaders such as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, and Mr. Hans-Jorrg Brunner, representative of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Representing the organizing unit were Ms. Rabea Brauer (KAS Institute) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh – Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

In addition, many renowned scholars from Vietnam and abroad (USA, Japan, India, China, Philippines, Singapore, etc.) attended, such as Dr. Xue Li (Institute of International Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences); Professor David Arase (Johns Hopkins University); Professor Seiichiro Takaji (Japan Institute of International Affairs); Major, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Minh (Coast Guard Command, Ministry of National Defence); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh (Vietnam Diplomatic Academy);… along with the attention of numerous domestic and international press.

Ms. Rabea Brauer (KAS Institute) delivered the opening remarks at the workshop.

Speaking at the seminar, Ms. Rabea Brauer said: “We held a seminar on the ‘Maritime Silk Road’ last year. Today we continue to discuss its implications for policy and security in each region. We have invited many leading speakers who will share with us their perspectives, realities, and prospects for regional and global security and politics.”

Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of researching the "Maritime Silk Road".

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh emphasized the direct impact of the "Maritime Silk Road" on Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region: "Major changes have occurred around ASEAN, and the big question is what we can do to adapt to these changes. The rise of China is the most important reality of these changes."

"The Belt and Road Initiative" is a vision adopted by Chinese leaders to access global economies, rapidly connecting land and sea routes linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe. China's rise influences the strategy for reshaping the world order; it is changing the face and material transformation of China in the world and has a significant impact on the Asian landscape.

Dr. Xue Li presented her research, "How the Obor Strategy Facilitates China-ASEAN Cooperation?", on China's Belt and Road Initiative.

This morning (November 26th), the seminar focused on the presentation "How the OBOR Strategy Facilitates China-ASEAN Cooperation?" by Dr. Xue Li, which addressed the One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategy as a "key plan" in China's foreign policy for the next decade, with ASEAN likely to be the first test case.

Dr. Trinh Van Dinh presented his research "A Historical Approach to the Origins of the Maritime Silk Road" from a geopolitical perspective and the expansionist ambitions of the Chinese emperors.

And the presentation "A Historical Approach to the Origins of the Maritime Silk Road" by Dr. Trinh Van Dinh (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) approaches the emergence of these "silk roads" from a political perspective linked to the expansionist ambitions of Chinese emperors.

Both presentations sparked a lively debate among scholars, with many questions posed to Dr. Xue Li from the perspective of the relationship between Vietnam and China. In the spirit of academic exchange, all questions were answered with clear scientific evidence.

Today the workshop concluded its first three sessions, and the remaining three discussion sessions will be held tomorrow.

Specifically, the discussion sessions included:

November 26, 2015:

- Session 1: Comments on China's "Maritime Silk Road"

- Session 2: A look through the lens of the navy

- Session 3: Tensions in the South China Sea

November 27, 2015:

- Session 4: ASEAN's Perspectives and Positions

- Session 5: Perspectives, positions and cooperation in the region

- Session 6: Roundtable Conference – The Current Situation in Diplomacy