Southeast Asia in the Eastern World

"Southeast Asia in the Eastern World" was the theme of the national scientific conference organized by the Faculty of Oriental Studies this morning, October 26, 2010.Attending the workshop were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Vice Rector of the University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Dinh Chinh - Head of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan - Head of the Faculty of Southeast Asian Studies of Ho Chi Minh City Open University, along with researchers, postgraduate students, trainees, and students from various agencies and universities. Eight out of seventeen papers presented at the workshop focused on key issues related to the political, defense, security, economic, and socio-cultural fields of Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Dinh Chinh highlighted the importance of political, defense, and security cooperation between Vietnam and Laos since the Doi Moi (Renovation) period (1986) to the present. The report affirms that this cooperative relationship between the two countries is becoming increasingly close, comprehensive, and profound, creating political and social stability, economic development, and contributing to maintaining peace in the region and the world. At the same time, Associate Professor Dr. Le Dinh Chinh also pointed out the challenges affecting the cause of building and defending socialism in both Vietnam and Laos amidst complex developments and regional and international conflicts that are both covert and overt, taking place in various forms. Also related to security issues, Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan addressed the issue of human security. Her presentation, "The Process of National Reconciliation in the Federation of Malaysia after Independence (1957): A Perspective on Human Security," shows that the relationship between ethnic groups and ethnic policies always plays a key role in the issue of national reconciliation and unity. Sharing the same viewpoint, Professor Mai Ngoc Chu (Head of the Southeast Asian Studies Department - Faculty of Oriental Studies) argued that conflicts between ethnic groups are becoming a pressing issue for many countries around the world. To clarify this point, Professor Mai Ngoc Chu cited the example of "Ethnic Conflicts in Malaysia." These conflicts relate to language and education policies, economic and religious differences, and the role of each community in government agencies, from the central to local levels. Malaysia successfully resolved these conflicts and became a stable, peaceful, and prosperous nation in Southeast Asia. In addition, several reports discussed economic and cultural issues: "Traditional Customs Related to the Construction of Stilt Houses by the Thai People in Thailand" - Ms. Nguyen Thuy Chau, and "A Review of Singapore's Economic Development Resources from After Independence to the Late 1980s" - Ms. Ho Thi Thanh. From economic development policies to foreign cooperation, everything was discussed in detail… The reports highlighted the importance and role of each country in particular, and the Southeast Asian region in general, in the overall development of the East. The scientific conference was also one of the official activities of the Faculty of Oriental Studies to celebrate its 15th anniversary.