Launch of the book “The European Union through the eyes of Asia”

On December 7, 2009, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Commission (EC) in Vietnam and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) organized the launching ceremony of the book "The European Union through the eyes of Asia" volume II.

The book is the result of 18 months of work by researchers from New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. There are 03 Vietnamese researchers participating in writing this book: Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Head of the Faculty of International Studies - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi), Postgraduate Student. Bui Hai Dang (Deputy Head of the Faculty of International Relations - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Ho Chi Minh City), Master. Tran Bach Hieu (Lecturer of the Department of Political Science - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi). The book is 270 pages thick, printed by World Scientific Publishing House in October 2009.

Starting in 2006, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the National Centre for European Studies (NCRE) at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand established the European Research Network in Asia (ESIA) and initiated the research project “EU in Asian Perspectives”. This research project aimed to explore in detail the perceptions of the EU in Asia. In 2009, the research project “EU in Asian Perspectives” was conducted at 12 research sites across Asia.

The book The European Union in Asian Perspectives, Volume II: New Cases, New Research Findings presents the new findings and discoveries of the project, and at the same time, the book also provides a detailed and systematic overview of the EU's presence through the research works of three research groups from Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. All data analysis and research were conducted in 2008 and the first half of 2009. In addition, the book compares the results and findings from the first phase of the project carried out in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand in 2006 (volume 1 published in 2007). Chapter 2 of the book was written by Vietnamese researchers. This chapter specifically studies the perceptions of the EU in Vietnam through the reflections of the media, public opinion and the views of the elite and the leadership class of Vietnam. It can be said that the published research results of the project “EU through the eyes of Asians” are of great value to policy makers and leaders in both Europe and Asia.

The book launch attracted the attention of many readers, researchers, professors and students inside and outside the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Attending the book launch ceremony were many representatives of the embassies of Hungary, Korea, Japan, Singapore, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam, the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Vietnam, the European Chamber of Commerce (EUROCHAM) in Vietnam, the University of Canterbury (New Zealand)...