International Scientific Conference "Security and Development Issues in the New Context"

The conference was co-organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) in collaboration with University College Cork (Ireland) and the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland in Vietnam. According to the Organizing Committee, by the date of the conference, the Organizing Committee had received nearly 50 articles from scholars at home and abroad.

In his opening speech at the Workshop, Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Vice Rector of the University) outlined the scientific and practical significance of the Workshop's theme and stated that the world today has a lot of potential but also many risks, the aspiration for security, safety and development is the dream of many countries, including Vietnam. Vice Rector Dao Thanh Truong highly appreciated the cooperation between the Faculty of International Studies (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) and the Irish Aid Fund (Embassy of Ireland) in coordinating the organization of such scientific workshops. At the same time, Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thanh Truong also mentioned the central role in the field of research on Social Sciences and Humanities of the University, hoping that the units will continue to promote that advantage to organize more meaningful workshops.

The chair and coordinator of the workshop were two lecturers of the Faculty of International Studies: Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh and Dr. Le Lena. The workshop was divided into 2 sessions with 7 presentations by domestic and foreign experts. The opening was an introductory report, with an open title“Sustainable Science”by Dr. Drogoul Alexis - Representative of the French Institute for Development Research in Vietnam.

Session 1 then took place with 3 reports from foreign scholars: (i)“The Term Non-Traditional Security – and How International Cooperation Can Help”by Dr. Sebastian Paust (Head of Development Cooperation Department of the German Embassy in Vietnam); (ii)“The food, water and energy security nexus: processes and developments”by Dr. John Ward (Mekong Regional Futures Institute in Laos) and (iii)“Migration, social integration and the impact of Covid-19”Presented by Dr. Edward Lahiff (on behalf of the group of authors including Prof. Pham Quang Minh and MSc. Nguyen Trong Chinh).

The second session also had 3 reports from domestic scholars including: (i)“Normal Power in Asia-Pacific”by Dr. Le Lena (Faculty of International Studies); (ii)“World Order in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”by Dr. Nghiem Tuan Hung (Institute of World Economics and Politics) and (iii)“What Choices for China? Adjustments in China's Foreign Security Strategy under Xi Jinping”by Dr. Hoang Hue Anh (Institute of Chinese Studies).

After each presentation, the speakers received questions and answers directly. Although it was an online workshop, the interactions between the speakers and the participants were very frequent and lively. Therefore, the workshop took place continuously for 5 hours (from 13:00 to 18:00).

Concluding the workshop, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh highly appreciated the enthusiasm and sharing of all 7 reporters. According to Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, the presentations selected at the workshop were closely linked from theory to practice. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh reiterated the importance of the relationship between security and development, emphasizing a world with a new and unpredictable context and affirming that the future of the world depends on the countries themselves. In particular, countries need to focus more on cooperation and promote multilateralism. Not only countries, global organizations such as the United Nations or regional organizations such as the EU, ASEAN... also need to further strengthen their connection, cooperation and sharing to create a safe, developed world, taking international law as the standard and for humanity.