On November 10, the Faculty of History and International Relations of the USSH, VNU-HCM, hosted a National Scientific Conference titled “Theoretical and Practical Foundations of Non-Material Factors in International Relations,” held within the framework of the national-level research project “The Role of Non-Material Factors in International Relations and Policy Implications for Enhancing Vietnam’s International Standing” (Code: KX.06.10/21-30).
The conference was attended by scholars from the USSH, VNU–Hanoi, including Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam, Chair of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of International Studies, and Dr. Le Lena, a lecturer of the same faculty. Representatives from the USSH, VNU-HCM, included Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi, Dean of the Faculty of History and International Relations; Dr. Duong Thanh Thong, Vice Dean of the Faculty; Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang, Head of the International Relations Program; Dr. Phan Thi Anh Thu, Deputy Head of the Office of External Relations and Research Affairs; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hai Dang, Director of the Center for Korean Studies. The event also drew representatives from academic institutions, scholars from regional universities, and numerous lecturers, researchers, and students interested in international relations.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi, Dean of the Faculty of History and International Relations, emphasized the importance of research on non-material factors in the context of Vietnam’s increasingly prominent regional role. He expressed confidence that, through collaboration between the two leading international relations research centers of the USSH under VNU–Hanoi and VNU-HCM, the conference would not only strengthen academic exchange but also contribute to generating substantive impacts on national policy formulation and enhancement.
Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi emphasized the significance of studying non-material factors in the context of Vietnam’s increasingly important role in the region – Photo: Tuan Vu
In his address, Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam, Chair of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of International Studies at the USSH, VNU–Hanoi, underscored the conference’s guiding role in affirming the importance of non-material factors—such as spirit, character, and culture—in shaping national strength and contemporary international relations. He further expressed his expectation that the conference would open up new research directions, contribute to shaping policy thinking, and strengthen Vietnam’s competitiveness amid globalization.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam delivered his speech – Photo: Tuan Vu
During the session, several notable papers were presented by leading experts, including “Non-Material Factors in International Relations” by Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam; “Non-Material Factors in International Relations: Theoretical Foundations, International Practice, and Policy Implications for Vietnam” by Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang; “Identity Factors in International Relations” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hai Dang; and “Normative Power of ASEAN and the European Union in Southeast Asia: Mechanisms and Practical Implementation” by Dr. Le Lena.
Experts presented their papers at the conference – Photo: Tuan Vu
Discussions at the conference focused on elucidating the relationship between material and non-material factors in international relations through diverse theoretical and practical perspectives. The conference also highlighted a newly proposed approach that analyzes the behavior and strategic vision of political leaders to explain differences in foreign policy among countries.
In addition, scholars held in-depth discussions on the interaction between material and non-material factors, emphasizing that these are not separate categories but exist in a dialectical relationship. Overall, participants reached a consensus that research on non-material factors should be undertaken in close and complementary integration with material factors, thereby ensuring an accurate reflection of reality and providing effective support for the formulation of Vietnam’s foreign policy.
The conference drew numerous contributions from researchers during the discussion session – Photo: Tuan Vu
The conference offered new, multidimensional perspectives and served as a high-quality academic forum for scholarly exchange, promoting scientific cooperation and guiding policy development in international relations, thereby reaffirming the role of the USSH, VNU-HCM, as a reputable research hub in the southern region.
Some additional images from the conference:
Tuan Vu
Translated by Diem Trang
