International Scientific Seminar | Diplomacy in Practice: Perspectives from Pakistan in a Changing International Order
On the morning of May 9, 2026, the Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City successfully organized the International Scientific Seminar "Diplomacy in Practice: Perspectives from Pakistan in a Changing International Order". Attending the seminar were H.E. Kohdayar Marri - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen Vu Ky - Deputy Director of the Faculty of History and International Relations, along with lecturers from the Faculty of History and International Relations.
Photo: Lecturers and students of the Faculty of History and International Relations taking a commemorative photo with Ambassador Kohdayar Marri
Speaking at the opening of the seminar, representative of the Faculty Board, Dr. Nguyen Vu Ky affirmed: "Today's seminar is of great significance in promoting the spirit of research and critical thinking among students, while also creating conditions for students to participate more in practical diplomatic activities." At the same time, the Faculty expressed deep gratitude for the Ambassador's presence and believes that his precious attendance acts as a "living book" for students to have the opportunity to learn diplomatic knowledge from vivid reality.
Photo: Dr. Nguyen Vu Ky - Deputy Director of the Faculty of History and International Relations delivering the opening remarks
Photo: Ambassador Kohdayar Marri and Dr. Nguyen Vu Ky taking a commemorative photo at the seminar
At the beginning of the sharing session, the Ambassador chose to recount his own childhood stories when mentioning political upheavals during the 1970s - 1980s, a time that prompted his family to leave their homeland and migrate through many countries. During that time, he had the opportunity to live in diplomatic areas and study with the children of diplomats, which made interacting with politicians and the international political environment no longer unfamiliar. Through these experiences, he emphasized the role of a childhood lived in a diplomatic environment in shaping confidence in high-level relationships as well as expanding his political vision for the future.
Photo: Ambassador Kohdayar Marri presenting at the seminar
Besides that, the Ambassador did not forget to mention art, architecture, and photography as personal passions that contributed to creating many diverse colors in his career journey. He shared that after returning to Pakistan, he chose to become an architect instead of immediately entering the political path. That journey opened up opportunities for him to rediscover the national culture, realizing that having traveled to many places before returning home helped him have conditions to observe and understand more deeply the issues in his own country.
Photo: Ambassador Kohdayar Marri presenting at the seminar
After the Ambassador's sharing, the Q&A session took place enthusiastically with many profound exchanges between him and the students. When asked about scholarship and student exchange opportunities, the Ambassador shared that he always wishes to strongly promote academic exchange opportunities between the two countries, both in online and in-person forms. He expressed: "It would be wonderful if students had the opportunity to go to Pakistan to experience and find themselves, because I myself also reaped many valuable experiences thanks to traveling and studying abroad." Through this, Ambassador Kohdayar Marri emphasized that strengthening educational scholarship programs and exchanges between Vietnamese and Pakistani students and lecturers will be one of his top priorities in the coming time.
Photo: Students listening and presenting their perspectives during the interaction with Ambassador Kohdayar Marri
When asked about the participation of the young generation in promoting people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries, the Ambassador affirmed: "The future depends on your enthusiasm, dynamism, and understanding." According to him, the young generation plays a particularly important role in continuing to consolidate and develop the diplomatic bridge between Vietnam and Pakistan. Because diplomatic relations are only truly sustainable and effective when there is a connection between people, between this culture and another culture. Through this, he hopes that the young generation clearly realizes their role in promoting bilateral relations, thereby joining hands to build a better and more solid Vietnam - Pakistan relationship.
Photo: Ambassador Kohdayar Marri presenting at the seminar
With sincere shares from his personal journey along with closeness in interacting with students, the International Scientific Seminar "Diplomacy in Practice: Perspectives from Pakistan in a Changing International Order" has brought profound and practical perspectives on the field of Diplomacy as well as the Vietnam - Pakistan relationship in the current context. At the same time, through the program, the Ambassador expressed his belief in Vietnamese youth, especially the youth of the Faculty of History and International Relations in particular, and the youth of the "Người Nhân văn" in general in taking advantage of academic strengths to participate in research and international exchanges, thereby joining hands to create a bridge between the two countries. The Ambassador's shares also contributed to clarifying Pakistan's intermediary role in the current U.S. - Israel and Iran conflict, while explaining the motivations driving Pakistan to become one of the leading countries contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping activities. Thereby, the seminar was not only an opportunity for students to meet and listen to shares from a senior diplomat, but also a place where international relations theories were realized through valuable real-life stories, experiences, and perspectives from a diplomat himself.
Photo: Lecturers and students of the Faculty of History and International Relations taking a commemorative photo with Ambassador Kohdayar Marri
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DIPLOMACY IN PRACTICE: PERSPECTIVES FROM PAKISTAN IN A CHANGING INTERNATIONAL ORDER
On the morning of May 9, 2026, the Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, successfully organized the International Scientific Seminar “Diplomacy in Practice: Perspectives from Pakistan in a Changing International Order.” The seminar was honored by the presence of H.E. Kohdayar Marri, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to Vietnam; Dr. Nguyen Vu Ky, Deputy Director of the Faculty of History and International Relations; along with lecturers and students of the Faculty.
In his opening remarks, representing the Faculty’s Board of Management, Dr. Nguyen Vu Ky emphasized: “Today’s seminar holds great significance in fostering students’ spirit of research and critical thinking, while also creating opportunities for them to engage more actively in practical diplomatic activities.” The Faculty also expressed its sincere gratitude for the Ambassador’s presence, believing that his participation served as a “living textbook,” offering students valuable opportunities to learn diplomatic knowledge directly from real-world experiences.
In the first part of the seminar, Ambassador Kohdayar Marri shared stories from his childhood while reflecting on the political upheavals of the 1970s and 1980s — a period that compelled his family to leave their homeland and migrate across several countries. During those years, he had the opportunity to live in diplomatic communities and study alongside the children of diplomats, which made interactions with politicians and the international political environment a familiar part of his life from an early age. Through these experiences, the Ambassador highlighted how growing up in a diplomatic environment shaped his confidence in high-level relationships and broadened his political perspective for the future.
In addition, the Ambassador spoke about art, architecture, and photography as personal passions that added vibrant dimensions to his professional journey. He shared that after returning to Pakistan, he chose to pursue a career as an architect rather than immediately entering politics. This path allowed him to rediscover his national culture and realize that traveling and living in many different places before returning home had given him a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing his own country.
Following the Ambassador’s presentation, the Q&A session unfolded enthusiastically, featuring many meaningful and in-depth exchanges between him and the students. When asked about scholarship opportunities and student exchange programs, the Ambassador stated that he strongly wished to further promote academic exchanges between Vietnam and Pakistan, both online and in person. He remarked: “It would be wonderful if students had the opportunity to come to Pakistan to explore and discover themselves, because I myself gained many valuable experiences through traveling and studying abroad.” Through this, Ambassador Kohdayar Marri emphasized that expanding educational scholarships and exchange programs between Vietnamese and Pakistani students and lecturers would be one of his top priorities in the near future.
When discussing the role of young people in promoting people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries, the Ambassador affirmed: “The future depends on your enthusiasm, dynamism, and understanding.” According to him, the younger generation plays an especially important role in strengthening and developing the diplomatic bridge between Vietnam and Pakistan. Diplomatic relations, he noted, can only become sustainable and effective when there is genuine connection between people and between cultures. Therefore, he encouraged young people to recognize their role in advancing bilateral relations and to work together toward building an increasingly strong and enduring partnership between Vietnam and Pakistan.
Through heartfelt personal stories and warm interactions with students, the International Scientific Seminar “Diplomacy in Practice: Perspectives from Pakistan in a Changing International Order” offered profound and practical insights into diplomacy and Vietnam–Pakistan relations in the contemporary context. Through the program, Ambassador Kohdayar Marri also expressed his confidence in Vietnamese youth, particularly students of the Faculty of History and International Relations and the wider youth community of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, in utilizing their academic strengths to engage in research and international exchange, thereby contributing to building bridges between the two nations.
The Ambassador’s sharing also shed light on Pakistan’s mediating role amid the current U.S.-Israel and Iran tensions, while explaining the motivations behind Pakistan becoming one of the leading contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Ultimately, the seminar was not only an opportunity for students to meet and learn from a senior diplomat, but also a space where theories of international relations were vividly brought to life through valuable real-world experiences, stories, and perspectives from diplomacy in practice.
