The increasing influence of China in mainland ASEAN.

The scientific seminar took place in an objective and open atmosphere. Delegates engaged in in-depth discussions about the growing influence of China on mainland Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, particularly in the economic sphere.

Opening the seminar, Dr. Suthphand Chirathivat (Director of the ASEAN Research Center, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand) presented a definition of China's increasing influence over Southeast Asian countries. China builds this influence through various avenues, including exporting goods to the ASEAN market, as well as providing subsidies to developing countries.

Dr. Suthphand Chirathivat presented a paper.

Dr. Pham Anh Tuan (Institute of World Economics, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) shared his views on Vietnam's increasing interdependence with the Chinese economy. He outlined a comprehensive picture of Vietnam's foreign economic relations, providing comparative data to demonstrate the growing dependence of Vietnamese trade on its largest partner, China, specifically in industry, agriculture, and services. This partly reflects a North-South model. On the one hand, China supplies a large amount of intermediate goods to Vietnam, including foreign direct investment (FDI). On the other hand, China is a frequent destination for "sensitive" products from Vietnam such as wood, food, and rubber. Currently, China is a large market, but it also raises many concerns for Vietnam. In conclusion, Dr. Pham Anh Tuan proposed several solutions, such as seeking alternative markets for both imports and exports (for example, ASEAN); Strengthen monitoring of agricultural product chains and output; set higher targets for Chinese investments and strive to compete and regain market share from China.

Dr. Pham Anh Tuan presented his paper.

Following the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh presented a report on the topic: "A Gift or a Burden? The Limitations of Chinese Aid to Vietnam." He shared that foreign aid from China is often driven by its own interests and general foreign policy goals. According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, aid can stem from political, commercial, or even reputational concerns. It seems that China is increasingly focusing on government-to-government diplomacy, while in recent years, people-to-people diplomacy has been neglected. This reflects the complex economic and political relationship between the two countries. The majority of Chinese aid to Vietnam is in the form of preferential loans, always accompanied by strict conditions such as requirements for raw materials, technology, and equipment.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh presented his paper.

From a comparative perspective, Dr. Anupama Devendrakumar (ASEAN Research Center, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand) pointed out the extent of China's and India's influence on ASEAN countries. Aware of the changes stemming from globalization, in recent years, these two Asian powers have strived to access the economies of Southeast Asian nations, increasing their far-reaching influence through aid to ASEAN countries. In addition, Dr. Thanyathip Sripana and Dr. Sothitorn Mallikamas (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand) also presented a perspective on China-Vietnam-Laos-Thailand relations, highlighting the opportunities and challenges that Southeast Asian countries have been facing through recent aid from Chinese investors and the government.