THE EASTERN PERSPECTIVE
Programme of Vietnam – Russia Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club in partnership with Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) “International Cooperation in a Troubled World”
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
List of speakers

Programme of Vietnam – Russia Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club

in partnership with Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV)

“International Cooperation in a Troubled World”

Ho Chi Minh City, February 25-26, 2019

 

February 25, Monday

 

12:00 – 13:00 Conference Opening*

  • Introduction Speech by Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club

  • Introduction by Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

  • Introduction by Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation

Moderator: 

  • Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club

Questions and answers

13:00-14:00    Session 1. Security Issues in the Asian Region: Risks and Opportunities*

In the new strategic context, the Russian-Vietnamese relations have entered a new stage. China’s more assertive foreign policy, America’s heavy-handed actions and the breakup of many established international systems are crucial factors for the Russian-Vietnamese cooperation in the next five to ten years. The world has entered an era of multiple sanctions and trade wars, which are undermining the seemingly unshakeable foundations of globalization. What responses to these challenges can Russia and Vietnam suggest? How can they consider these factors in the world politics and international economy in the long-term planning of bilateral cooperation? What are the other challenges that could influence the development of the Russian-Vietnamese relations?     

Moderator:

  • Fyodor Lukyanov, research director of the Valdai Discussion Club, Chairman, Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Editor-in-Chief, Russia in Global Affairs journal

Speakers:

  • Sergey Afontsev, Corresponding Member, Russian Academy of Sciences; Head of the Department of Economic Theory, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO)

  • Andrey Bezrukov, Associate Professor, Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the MFA of Russia (MGIMO)

  • Đinh Đình Cường, Senior Lieutenant Colonel, Ministry of Public Security

  • Tran Viet Thai, Deputy Director General, The Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

*Open Session

15:30 – 17:30 Session 2. Multilateral Cooperation in Asia and Eurasia

We live in a difficult time for the mechanisms and institutions of international cooperation. In both Asia and Eurasia, a new infrastructure is being shaped, which should be inclusive, encompassing the great powers, middle and small players. Mechanisms involving ASEAN, SCO, EAEU are being built, the EAEU-Vietnam FTA Agreement is being implemented, the Greater Eurasia’s future architecture is being discussed. What are the peculiarities of the roles of Russia and Vietnam in these processes? How do both sides see the future of architecture of multilateral cooperation in Asia and Eurasia? How efficient are the existing institutions?   

Moderator:

  • Timofey Bordachev, Program Director, Valdai Discussion Club; Director, Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Speakers:

  • Alexander Lomanov, Professor, RAS, Chief Researcher at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), RAS

  • Viktor Sumsky, Director of the ASEAN Center MGIMO University

  • Viktor Shakhmatov, Head of Analytical Department, Eurasian Economic Commission  

  • Do Huong Lan, Associate Professor, Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy

  • Nguyễn Phương Bình, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

February 26, Tuesday

 

10:00 – 11:30 Session 3. Prospects of Vietnamese – Russian Relations

After a period of relative decline, the Russian-Vietnamese relations are returning to the traditionally active state. What have the two sides achieved over the past years? What are the obstacles to further enhancement of cooperation, as seen by Vietnamese and Russian experts? What new spheres of cooperation can be seen as the most promising ones?

Moderator:

  • Tran Viet Thai, Deputy Director General, The Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

Speakers:

  • Vladimir Mazyrin, Doctor of Economics, Director of the Far East Institute's Vietnam-ASEAN Research Centre under Russia's Science Academy

  • Anton Tsvetov, Foreign policy and security expert, Center for Strategic Research

  • Le Trac Vuong, Institute of International Relations, Ministry of Defense (IDIR)

  • Phan Ngọc Mai Phương, Vice President of the Viet Nam Institute for Development Strategies, Ministry of Planning and Investment

  • Nguyễn Vũ Hương Chi, Russian language lecturer, Dean of Faculty of Russian language & literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Hochiminh City.

11:40 – 12:00 Session 4. Closing of the Conference

Closing Remarks:

  • Nguyen Vu Tung, President, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

  • Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club