International Scientific Conference “ASEAN Community after one year of establishment”

Attending the workshop were, on the government side, Ms. Tran Kim Chi - Head of the Multilateral Affairs Department, Foreign Affairs Department, Office of the National Assembly; Mr. Nguyen Dang Trung, Deputy Director of the ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Le Kim Dung - Director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; on the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Khanh, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; on the KAS side, Mr. Peeter Girke - Chief Representative of KAS in Vietnam; on the USSH side, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Rector of the University, along with lecturers, researchers and students of the Faculty of International Studies.

The ASEAN Community was officially established on December 31, 2015 with three pillars: the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). This is a historic action, a good opportunity for ASEAN to consolidate and enhance community ties, towards a more important position. The ASEAN Community contributes to bringing peace, prosperity and sustainable happiness to the people in the region. However, the completion of the ASEAN Community not only faces internal difficulties, but is also deeply affected by the changing international environment, especially the increased engagement and strategic competition between major countries, first of all between China and the United States. In this context, the need to analyze and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses of the formation of the ASEAN Community is very necessary and urgent. The workshop “ASEAN Community after one year of establishment” is an opportunity for domestic and foreign scientists and researchers to discuss the above issues, thereby providing practical suggestions and recommendations for the construction and completion of this Community.

Conference scene

Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) recalled two recent developments related to the ASEAN Community: (i) At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on July 24, 2016 in Laos, ASEAN member countries made a commitment to ensuring peace, security and prosperity in the region; (ii) On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a ruling on the sovereignty dispute in the East Sea between the Philippines and China, rejecting China's "nine-dash line" claim. All of these developments affect the security as well as the formation and development of the ASEAN Community. In addition, some outside observers believe that there is a large gap between the statements and actions of ASEAN member countries; this requires leaders to narrow the gap between words and actions to promote advantages and resolve difficulties.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) delivered the opening speech at the conference.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh also emphasized that the formation of the ASEAN Community is only the starting point, not a process. To have a real community, ASEAN needs the political will of its leaders, the determination to fulfill its commitments and make every effort for the people of its member countries. Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh also expressed his confidence in the students and trainees present at the conference, who will be the future owners of the ASEAN Community. He hopes that they will continue to study and learn about the ASEAN Community to contribute to the development within and outside the community.

On this occasion, Mr. Peter Girke also affirmed KAS's commitment to supporting and cooperating with the USSH in scientific research activities. Last year, from May 21 to 22, KAS collaborated with the University to successfully organize the international conference "ASEAN Community: Key to National and Regional Integration in Southeast Asia". In the near future, the two sides will continue to organize a conference on ASEAN connectivity in border areas. All of these topics are related to the urgent factors of ASEAN today, especially the need for unity and cooperation.

Mr. Peter Girke (Chief Representative of KAS in Vietnam) spoke at the workshop

After the opening, the workshop took place with 2 sessions:

• Session 1: “ASEAN Community in 2016: Advantages and difficulties” includes the following presentations: “Persistent Hope and Anxiety”, “ASEAN Political-Security Community: Opportunities and challenges ahead”, “Challenges in forming the ASEAN Economic Community”, “Impact of China and the US involvement in strengthening and enhancing ASEAN community connectivity”.
• Session 2: “Promoting cooperation for the development of the ASEAN Community” includes presentations: “ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC): Opportunities and challenges in implementing the set goals”, “ASEAN at 50: Fading Multilateralism and Great Powers' Allure”, “Vietnam's priorities in building the ASEAN Community”, “The role of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in promoting the building of the ASEAN Community”.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Minh and delegates attending the conference took a souvenir photo