Conference on “Can East Asia Remain Peaceful?”

On 18^th-19^th October, 2013, at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), a conference entitled “Can East Asia Remain Peaceful?” was jointly held by the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies (IFPSS) and Uppsala University (Sweden) with the participation of over 30 delegates who are high ranking scholars of East Asian Peace and Security from America, China, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Australia, Norway and Vietnam. This is the third annual conference in the framework of East Asian Peace programme (EAP programme) held by the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University.

During the two-day conference, the participants focused on reviewing, discussing and synthesizing ideas, and views on the characteristics of peace in East Asia since the 1980’s, with special attention to national identity and its impact on the handling of regional and neighbouring conflicts. The participants also analysed differences in peace in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, evaluated levels and prospects for peace as well as proposed measures to build peace and strengthen confidence in the region.

In particular, within the framework of the conference, the participants had an open exchange and discussion with the participation of over 100 students of the Academy. This is a special opportunity for DAV students to meet, interact and communicate directly with the world’s leading scholars. Many questions and comments made ​​at the meeting showed the practicality and effectiveness of the conference.

Additionally, this conference helps further tighten the academic cooperation between the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies and Uppsala University as well as expands the academic connection between DAV with other institutes and centers for world leading politics and security research. The presence of such scholars not only shows that Vietnam has significantly advanced in the integration with international academics, but also become a destination for the world’s prestigiously professional conferences./.