Invitation Letter & Programme. HT 7TH. Updated 05-10

7 th South China Sea International Conference
COOPERATION FOR REGIONAL SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT
November 23-24, 2015, Vung Tau City, Viet Nam
28 th September 2015
Dear Sir/ Madam
INVITATION LETTER
The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS)
and the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association (VLA) are pleased to announce our Seventh South
China Sea International Conference: “Cooperation for Regional Security and Development”
on November 23-24, 2015 in Vung Tau city, Viet Nam.
As our previous conferences on the South China Sea, this year we invite a world-class group
of approximately 30 experts to make presentations, and will invite about 200-250 senior
officials, business executives, experts, academics and diplomats to participate in the
discussion. This 7th Gathering aims to provide participants a special opportunity to assess
the current situation in the South China Sea from an interdisciplinary perspective and to
consider and to discuss measures to maintain peace and stability in the area and to
promote cooperation. Please see the attached agenda for details.
On behalf of the Organisers, the Academy has the honour of inviting you to participate in our
conference and share your ideas during the discussion sessions. You are kindly requested
to secure your own funding for international travel, accommodations, conference fee
of USD 200 and other expense(s).
We would very much appreciate if you can confirm your participation and return fully
completed registration form to our contact person, Ms Ho Hong Hanh, tel. (844) 62763138,
fax. (844) 38343543, email hohonghanh77@gmail.com, no later than 10 November 2015,
for logistic arrangement.
We look forward to welcoming at the 7 th South China Sea International Conference 2015 in
Vietnam.
With best regards,
Dr. Dang Dinh Quy
President of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS)
and the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association (VLA) are pleased to host the 7 th South China
Sea International Conference: “Cooperation for Regional Security and Development” on
23-24 November 2015 in Vung Tau city, Viet Nam.
As did our previous conferences on the South China Sea, this year we invite a worldclass
group of approximately 30 experts to make presentations, and will invite about
200-250 senior officials, business executives, experts, academics and diplomats to
participate in the discussion.
This 7 th Gathering aims to provide participants a special opportunity to assess the
current situation in the South China Sea from an interdisciplinary perspective and to
consider and to discuss measures to maintain peace and stability in the area and to
promote cooperation. To that end, this 7 th Conference will comprise sessions as follows:
Developments in the World and Its Implications for the South China Sea
Developments in and around the South China Sea
Major Powers Interactions in the South China Sea
International Law
The Way forward
Simulation: Settlement, Delimitation and Joint Developments in the South China Sea

PROGRAMME
Sunday – November 22, 2015
All Day
Arrival of International Participants
6:30-9:00 PM Welcome dinner, hosted by Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, President of the Vietnamese Lawyers
Association
Monday - November 23, 2015
8:00-8:30 AM Registration
8:30-9:30 AM OPENING SESSION
9.30-10.00 AM Coffee Break
DAY 1
Welcome Remarks by Amb. Dang Dinh Quy, President of the Diplomatic Academy of
Vietnam.
Keynote Address: H.E. Dato' Sri Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia (TBC)
ASEAN and South China Sea issue in 2015
10.00-12.00 AM SESSION 1: Developments in the World and Its Implications for the South
China Sea
Prof. Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies, Center for Policy Research,
New Delhi, India
Balance of Powers
Prof. Liselotte Odgaard, Institute of Strategy, Royal Danish Defense College, Ministry
of Defense, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Hotspots
Dr. Shen Dingli, Professor and Vice Dean at the Institute of International Studies,
Fudan University, China
Economic Interdependence
Representative from BMI Research
Energy Revolution
Dr. Nguyen Nam Duong, Deputy Director General Institute for Strategic Studies,
DAV, Vietnam
Emerging Security Architecture
1

12.00-1.00 PM Luncheon
1.00-2.45 PM SESSION 2: Developments in and around the South China Sea
2.45-3.15 PM Coffee Break
Ms. Rukmani Gupta, Senior Asia-Pacific analyst for IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly
Status-quo on the Sea: Islands, Rock, LTE, Submerged Features, Artificial Islands
Dr. Mathieu Duchatel, Deputy Director of the Asia and China Program of the
European Council of Foreign Relations
Forces Modernization and Deployment (Navy, Air Forces, Law Enforcement,
Paramilitary, Militia)
Col. Lu Yin, Institute of Strategic Studies, National Defense University (NDU), Beijing,
China (TBC)
Overall Development in the SCS
Prof. Herman Joseph S. Kraft, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS),
Philippines
Overall Development in the SCS
Dr. Le Quy Quynh, Director General, Maritime Department, National Boundary
Commission, Vietnam MOFA
DOC, COC and Delimitation, Cooperation Negotiation
3.15-5.00 PM SESSION 3: Major Powers Interactions in the South China Sea
Moderator: Prof. Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies Center for Policy
Research, New Delhi
Prof. Nguyen Manh Hung, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute,
Singapore
Major Powers Interactions in the South China Sea
Prof. Jin Canrong, Associate Dean, School of International Studies, Renmin University
of China
China’s Perspective
Dr. Patrick M. Cronin, Senior Advisor, Senior Director, Asia-Pacific Security Program,
Center for a New American Security (CNAS), US.
US’ Perspective
Dr. Ken Jimbo, Senior Fellow, Tokyo Foundation; Associate Professor, Faculty of
Policy Management, Department of Policy Management, Keio University, Japan
Japan’s Perspective
2

6:30-8:30 PM Dinner
Tuesday - November 24, 2015
Mr. Anton Tsvetov, Media and Government Relations Manager, Russian
International Affairs Council, Russia
Russia’s Perspective
DAY 2
8:30-10:00 AM SESSION 4: International Law
10:00-10:30 AM Coffee Break
Prof. Alex Oude Elferink, Director of Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea
(NILOS)
The Role of International Law in the South China Sea Disputes
Mr. Bill Hayton, Author and Reporter BBC News
Historical Evidence
Dr. Hong Nong, Director of Research Center of Ocean Law and Policy National
Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), China
UNCLOS and Historical Rights – Historical Water
Dr. Vu Thanh Ca, Assoc. Prof., Director, Department of International Cooperation
and Science and Technology, Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands
Biodiversity and Environmental Protection
10:30-12:00 AM SESSION 5: International Law (cont.)
Prof. Robert G. Volterra, Faculty of Law, University College of London, UK; Partner of
Volterra Fietta (Law Firm)
Obligation of Self-restraint, No threat and No use of force
Prof. Jonathan Odom, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Honolulu, U.S.
Rule of Engagement, Prevention and Management of Incidents at Sea
Ab. Rahim Hussin, Former Under Secretary, National Security Council, Prime
Minister’s Department, Malaysia
Search and Rescue
Prof. Michael Sheng-ti Gau, Institute of Law of the Sea, National Taiwan Ocean
University, Taiwan
Recent Developments of the Sino-Philippines Arbitration on the South China
Sea Disputes
3

12.00-1.00 PM Luncheon
1.00-1.45 PM Presentation on South China Sea Arbitration: Mr. Paul S. Reichler, Partner and Co-Head,
International Litigation and Arbitration Group at Foley Hoag, Legal adviser for Philippines
in South China Sea Arbitration, (TBC)
1.45-3.15 PM SESSION 6: The Way forward
Dr. Jay Batongbacal, Director, Institute for Maritime Affairs & Law of the Sea,
University of the Philippines
Preparing for Post Arbitration Scenarios
Prof. Carl Thayer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the University of New
South Wales at the Australian Defense Force Academy, Australia
COC and beyond
3.15-3.30 PM Coffee Break
Amb. Mr. Salman Al Farisi, Acting Head of Agency of Policy Analysis and
Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
South China Sea within Indo-Pacific Region
Ms. Yanmei Xie, Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group, Beijing
CBMs for South China Sea
3.30-4.00 PM New Initiatives for South China Sea, Representative from SCS Young Leaders Group
4.00-5.15 PM SESSION 7: Simulation: Settlement, Delimitation and Joint Developments in
the South China Sea
(Each panelist present their respective country’s position regarding the Proposal and then
proceed with negotiation)
Prof. Robert Beckman, Director of Center of International Law, National University
of Singapore
Proposal for Moving forward
Prof. Su Hao, Director, Center for Strategic and Peace Studies, China Foreign Affairs
University; President, Beijing Geopolitical Strategy and Development Association
China
Dr. Jay Batongbacal Director, Institute for Maritime Affairs & Law of the Sea,
University of the Philippines
Philippines
4

H.E. Pengiran Dato Paduka Osman bin Pengiran Haji Patra, Former Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Brunei, (TBC)
Brunei
Mr. Shahriman Lockman, Senior Analyst, Foreign Policy and Security Studies
Programme, Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia
Malaysia
Dr. Tran Truong Thuy, Executive Director, Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS);
Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Bien Dong Institute, Diplomatic Academy of
Vietnam (DAV)
Vietnam
5.15-5.30 PM Closing Remarks
7.00-9.00 PM Farewell Dinner, hosted by H.E. Le Cong Phung, Vice Chairman, FESS
5