On June 3, 2013, during a visit to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Klaus Larres (University of North Carolina – USA) gave a presentation to faculty and students on the topic "President Barack Obama and US Foreign Policy in the New Era". Attending the talk were Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh (Vice Rector of the University), along with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students from the Departments of International Studies, Political Science, and the Institute of Vietnamese Studies.
The presentation consists of four main sections: the two Secretaries of State under President Barack Obama, H. Clinton and J. Kerry; the characteristics of President Obama's foreign policy; President Obama's relationship with America's former allies in Europe; and the key issues in President Obama's foreign policy.
Professor Klaus Larres, a professor of History and International Relations, delivered a very engaging presentation, providing the audience with fascinating insights into the United States under President Obama – the first African-American president in American history. Professor Larres presented key arguments and supported them with detailed evidence. To keep the presentation engaging, he also interacted with the audience by asking questions related to the topic, prompting them to share their thoughts and discuss the following points: why did President Obama choose Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry? Will former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton run for re-election in 2017? What are Obama's key policies regarding Iran, Syria, North Korea, and the Arab Spring? What is the US relationship with China and Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam?
After the presentation concluded, the speaker received numerous comments and questions from faculty and students regarding the topic: President Obama and the United States in the field of foreign policy planning, an assessment of the successes and a comparison of President Obama's foreign policy with that of previous US presidents…
At the end of the presentation, Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh, on behalf of the Board of Directors, faculty, and students of the University, presented gifts and expressed his sincere gratitude to Professor Klaus Larres and his colleagues for taking the time to visit and work with the University, creating opportunities for faculty, students, and staff to access useful knowledge and advanced teaching methods. Professor Klaus Larres also expressed his pleasure at being welcomed by the University leadership and for the opportunity to present to the faculty, students, and staff. He also expressed his desire to cooperate and his willingness to help and exchange ideas with Vietnamese scholars and students on related topics by providing his email address and website.