INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP THEMED “ASEAN AND THE RULES BASED REGIONAL ORDER IN THE MAKING”

     On September 23rd-2020, an international workshop themed “ASEAN and The rules based regional order in the making” was organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation. The workshop was organized in both off-line and online forms with the participation of 65 experts and scholars in the field of international and regional relations. Vietnamese speakers and delegates were from research institutes of ministries, departments, branches and universities. Speakers from the US, China, Russia, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines participated in the workshop via the online form.

     The workshop consisted of 2 sessions: (i) International order based on post-Covid-19 rules; (ii) ASEAN and the rules-based regional order in the making: implications for multilateral diplomacy. Discussion at the Workshop indicated that the concept of a rules-based international order has recently attracted the attention of politicians and scholars. Numerous countries and organizations offer different views, perspectives and concepts of a Rules-Based Order. So far, explanations of this concept, however, have not had a general consensus about its nature, content, and elements.

     The workshop was deeply appreciated by delegates and speakers for the quality of presentations and discussions. At the workshop, some scholars argued that major powers played a key role in shaping and maintaining the rules-based international order. In that context, such important international organizations as the United Nations, WTO are legitimate organizations to operate the Rules-Based International Order. The competition of major powers has pushed ASEAN in a dilemma. Mid-range countries, like Australia or ASEAN should gather together to promote a common understanding of the rules-based order’s  connotation, thereby contributing to encouraging countries to have better behavior . The workshop’s success has continued a series of substantive and effective cooperation activities between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the KAS Foundation.