Closing Ceremony and Awards Ceremony of ASEAN 2020 SIMULATION

On the afternoon of April 20th, 2019, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Funds, Germany (KAS) held a closing and awards ceremony of ASEAN 2020 SIMULATION Competition. The ceremony took place under the direction and guidance of Mr. Oliver Wiechmann, expert from Crisis Management for Peace (CRISP), a German organization.

ASEAN 2020 SIMULATION included the mock sessions of Southeast Asian diplomats to prepare for the 37th ASEAN Summit and took place on April 19th and 20th, 2019. Attending the event were 11 teams from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities of Ho Chi Minh City.

Attending the awards ceremony was Mr. Peter Girke, Chief Representative and officials of KAS office in Vietnam. On the side of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, there was the participation of Dr. Nguyen Phu Tan Huong, Associate Dean of International politics and Diplomatic studies Faculty; Dr. Do Thanh Hai, Director of the Center for Information & Data, Institute of East Sea; and staff and lecturers of the Academy

ASEAN 2020 SIMULATION was a mock meeting model among high-level ASEAN officials to prepare for the 37th ASEAN Summit. The meeting was attended by representatives of 10 ASEAN countries and chairman from the World Mediation Organization. The meetings were opportunitíe for students to practice their skills and knowledge on international relations, external situations analysis, multilateral negotiation conduction and negotiations to protect national interests.

In two plenary sessions and three sectoral sessions, future ASEAN diplomats discussed three topics which are important to the regional integration process including maritime security, labor mobility, and the refugee crisis. These were hot potatoes that needed ASEAN to have a common voice and collective action to maintain intra-regional solidarity and ASEAN's central role in the regional structure.

After two intense working days, four awards were given to the best performing teams. In which, the Best Performers prize belonged to the team of contestants Pham Duc Minh (TA45C) and Tong Nguyen Ha My (CT45C) as delegates from Myanmar. The Best Negotiators prize are awarded to contestants Vo Hoang Linh (CT43A) and Ha Bao Tram (CT45A) as Cambodian delegates.

The Best Mediators prize belonged to the contestant team Do Duc Luong (CT44C) and Nguyen Ngoc Anh (CT44C) as the chair of the council. And the Most Unique Idea prize went to the contestants Le Hai Nam (DVB11) and Phan Quynh Nga (CT44A) as the Philippine delegates.

At the closing session after the official sessions, the contestants sent a thanks to the organizers, and shared changes in thinking and perceptions about international relations and foreign policy, as well as lessons on both theory and skills such as communication, negotiating and hosting international conferences skills. In addition, future diplomats were also trained in interviewing skills, using press tools to clarify their stances and support the negotiation process at meetings.

The activity had proved that simulation is really a very effective tool to teach and practice international relations, helping to combine theory and practice, enhancing students' ability on self-study and self-research. At the same time, creating a suitable environment for application and verification of knowledge and skills learned.

The closing and awards ceremony took place in an exciting, open but solemn atmosphere and left a deep impression on all attendees.