NAVIGATING NARRATIVES, NURTURING NORMS
Dr. Pham Lan Dung
Acting President, Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
Leader of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam (TBC)
Moderator: H.E. Ambassador. Dang Dinh Quy, Former Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Former Ambassador, Permanent
Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations
Keynote Speakers:
• Keynote Speaker 1: H.E. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Director
General for ASEAN Cooperation, SOM Leader of Indonesia
(invited)
• Keynote Speaker 2: Ms. Catherine West, Minister for the
Indo-Pacific, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(FCDO), the UK
• Keynote Speaker 3: The Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia (online)
• Keynote Speaker 4: Ministry of External Affairs, India (TBC)
• Keynote Speaker 5: Mr. Niclas Kvarnström, Managing
Director for Asia and Pacific, European External Action Service
(EEAS)
The world is moving toward multipolarity with competing visions about its future and
governing rules and principles. These shifts may be accompanied by geopolitical tensions
driven by incompatible narratives. This session will explore the competing narratives
evolving in Asia and their ramifications for regional peace and stability, particularly at sea.
Discussions will focus on the competing narratives offered by different “polars” and their
compatibility with existing rules and norms. The session will also discuss strategies for
promoting cooperation and preventing tensions from escalating. Participants will gain
valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by a multipolar world and
explore methods for cultivating peaceful coexistence between different power centers. The
South China Sea will be used as a case study to illustrate the challenges and possible
solutions related to navigating conflicts within this context.
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Sandeep Arya, Indian Ambassador to
Viet Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: Dr. Wu Shicun, Chairman, Huayang Center for
Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance; Chairman
of Academic Committee, National Institute for South China
Sea Studies, China
• Speaker 2: Prof. Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director,
Valdai Discussion Club, Russia (online)
• Speaker 3: Mr. Derek Grossman, Senior Defense Analyst,
RAND Corporation, the USA
• Speaker 4: Prof. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Chairman, Board of
Directors, The Habibie Center, Indonesia
This session will address the challenges ASEAN faces in maintaining its centrality during
difficult times. The discussion will focus on whether ASEAN should assert its influence and
adopt a more proactive approach or manage its expectations and adopt a more cautious
approach to lower risks. Additionally, the session will explore the implications of both
strategies for ASEAN’s regional relevance and its ability to navigate geopolitical tensions. In
light of current global circumstances, should ASEAN compete with or collaborate with other
minilateral arrangements? This session aims to provide a deeper understanding of ASEAN’s
dilemmas and possible future paths.
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Jaya Ratnam, Singaporean Ambassador
to Viet Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: H.E. Ambassador Sayakane Sisouvong, Former
Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN
• Speaker 2: Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, Senior Fellow, East Asian
International Relations (EAIR) Caucus, Malaysia
• Speaker 3: Prof. Jittipat Poonkham, Vice Dean, Faculty of
Political Science, Thammasat University, Thailand
• Speaker 4: Prof. De Castro, Distinguished Professor,
Department of International Studies, De La Salle University,
Philippines
Recent developments in the Red Sea have shown that international norms of freedom and
safety of navigation must not be taken for granted. Could the challenges posed by non-state
actors and new technologies help converge different narratives on ocean freedom of
navigation and renew international cooperation? This session will re-examine the complex
responsibility of ensuring safety and freedom of navigation in key maritime regions, from
the Red Sea to the South China Sea. The roles of various stakeholders, including state actors,
international organizations, tech companies, media, and the private sector, will be
examined. Furthermore, the session will explore strategies for enhancing cooperation and
addressing challenges associated with these vital sea lanes of communication, aiming to
address the potential implications of any lapses in ensuring safety and freedom of
navigation.
Moderator: H.E. Ms. Carmen Cano De Lasala, Spanish
Ambassador to Viet Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: Dr. Evan A. Laksmana, Senior Fellow for Southeast
Asia Military Modernisation, International Institute for
Strategic Studies (IISS)
• Speaker 2: Mr. Eric Laporte, Executive Director, Regional
Security and Defence Relations, Global Affairs Canada
• Speaker 3: Ms. Ilona Drozdov, Maritime Security and
International Relations Expert, Forum Dvorah, Israel
• Speaker 4: Rear Admiral Fred Kenney, Swansea University,
The UK
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian
Ambassador to Viet Nam
Keynote Speakers:
• Keynote Speaker 1: Judge Horinouchi Hidehisa, International
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
• Keynote Speaker 2: Ms. Stefanie Beck, Deputy Minister of
National Defence, Department of National Defence, Canada (online)
In 2024, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will enter its 30th
year of implementation. This session will critically examine the relevance of UNCLOS 30
years after its establishment. It will examine the effectiveness of UNCLOS in addressing
maritime disputes, promoting sustainable use of marine resources, and ensuring the rights
of coastal states. Additionally, the session will explore the challenges and opportunities
presented by emerging issues, such as climate change and the exploitation of deep-sea
resources, as well as discuss future development in the form of implementation
agreements in order to strengthen UNCLOS.
Moderator:
H.E. Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian
Ambassador to Viet Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: Mr. Andrew Murdoch, Legal Director, Foreign
Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the UK
• Speaker 2: Dr. Muhammad Taufan, Foreign Service
Officer/Minister Counsellor, Directorate of Legal Affairs and
Territorial Treaties, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Speaker 3: Dr. Takei Yoshinobu, Associate Professor, Faculty
of Law, Keio University
• Speaker 4: Dr. Nguyen Dang Thang, Vietnamese member of
the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Arbitrator under Annex
VII of UNCLOS
The non-use or threat of force is a fundamental principle of the UN Charter and an
obligation for states in resolving disputes. However, the complex evolution of international
relations, the proliferation of proxy actors, and the politicization and weaponization of
interdependencies necessitate a clarification and re-examination of how this principle
should be understood and upheld today. This session aims to promote and consolidate the
importance of norms for the peaceful resolution of disputes. Additionally, the session will
discuss the role of regional and international organizations, as well as diplomatic efforts, in
promoting peaceful engagement and preventing coercion and intimidation in international
relations.
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Ito Naoki, Japanese Ambassador to Viet
Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: Dr. Euan Graham, Senior Analyst, Australian
Strategy Policy Institute (ASPI)
• Speaker 2: Dr. Lei Xiaolu, Professor, China Institute of
Boundary and Ocean Studies, Wuhan University, China
• Speaker 3: CG Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela, Philippine
Coast Guard Spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea
Concerns, Philippine Coast Guard
• Speaker 4: Prof. Robert Beckman, Emeritus Professor,
Centre for International Law, National University of
Singapore
New technologies are driving international relations into uncharted and ungoverned
territories. Will these advancements cure or curse mankind’s existing problems? In this
session, a diverse group of technology experts and policymakers will discuss approaches to
govern emerging technologies, such as AI, and their potential to alter the maritime order.
The focus will be on ensuring the safety, reliability, and accountability of these
technologies. Specific applications, such as autonomous vehicles and weaponry in the
maritime domain, will be of particular interest. Participants will engage in a thought
provoking discussion on whether artificial intelligence can self-correct and, if not, how best
to regulate these disruptive technologies.
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Shawn Steil, Ambassador of Canada to Viet
Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: Dr. Océane Zubeldia, Director of the "Armament
and Defence Economics" domain (ADE), Institute for
Strategic Research at the Military School (IRSEM), France
• Speaker 2: Prof. Dimitrios Dalaklis, Professor, World
Maritime University (WMU)
• Speaker 3: Mr. Nico Lange, Senior Fellow, Munich Security
Conference
• Speaker 4: Ms. Jane Chan Git Yin, Senior Fellow and
Coordinator, Maritime Security Programme, S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore
Amid global uncertainty, different approaches have been adopted by various countries to
safeguard national interests and security. In this session, participants will engage in a
comprehensive discussion on the diverse strategies employed to achieve regional peace,
exploring the underlying philosophies and assumptions of each approach. Diplomacy,
defense, and deterrence strategies will be critically evaluated in terms of their effectiveness
in promoting stability and resolving conflicts. Additionally, the session will examine the
potential benefits and drawbacks of these approaches, while identifying key considerations
for regional countries as they navigate geopolitical tensions and strive to maintain regional
relevance.
Moderator: Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President, Diplomatic
Academy of Viet Nam
Speakers:
• Speaker 1: Prof. Leszek Buszynski, Honorary Professor,
Australian National University, Australia
• Speaker 2: Assoc. Prof. Do Thi Thuy, Lecturer/Acting Head
of Editorial Office of the Journal of International Studies,
Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
• Speaker 3: Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General,
Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and
Analyses (MP-IDSA), India
• Speaker 4: Dr. Sarah Kirchberger, Director, Institute for
Security Policy, Kiel University, Germany
