10th AsianSIL Plenary highlights Vietnam’s commitment to promoting international law: Ambassador Pham Lan Dung
WVR - Ambassador, Dr. Pham Lan Dung affirmed that Vietnam's hosting of the 10th Plenary Meeting of AsianSIL in October 2025 in Hanoi marks a significant milestone, underscoring the S-shaped country's commitment to promoting international law in the region, as well as showcasing its organizational capabilities, accumulated prestige, and the growing strength of its human resources in the field of international law.
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| In 2024, as the President of the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL), Ambassador, Dr. Pham Lan Dung (third from left) co-chaired the mid-term conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, alongside the host country's organizing committee. (Photo courtesy by the Ambassador) |
The Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) is a crucial regional forum for scholars, practitioners, and those interested in international law in Asia. It aims to provide a space for academic exchange, promote the continent's role in international law, and enhance awareness of international law in the region.
Ambassador, Dr. Pham Lan Dung shared her insights with The World & Vietnam Report on Vietnam's significant contributions to the Asian international law community.
Madame Ambassador, in 2023, you were elected as the President of AsianSIL, becoming the first Vietnamese to hold this position and the third female President of the forum. What does this mean for you personally and for Vietnam?
Being elected as the President of AsianSIL is an honour for me personally and for the community of researchers, practitioners, educators, and students of international law in Vietnam.
This also demonstrates that AsianSIL has placed trust and highly values the commitment and contributions of myself and my colleagues at the Diplomatic Academy, and of Vietnam in general, in promoting the development of international law in the region.
It is also evidence of the growing strength of Vietnam's cadre of officials, experts, and lawyers in international law, as well as Vietnam's interest in international law—a field of significant importance in the country's international integration process.
Moreover, AsianSIL opens up valuable opportunities for Vietnam to actively engage in international integration, particularly in the field of international law, as an active and responsible member, promoting the achievement of specific goals in this field.
Could you share more about Vietnam's most notable achievements at AsianSIL in recent years?
Vietnam has had representatives on the Executive Committee of AsianSIL during various periods.
In 2016, with the determination of Dr. Nguyen Dang Thang (currently Director General of the Department of International Law and Treaties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) - a member of the AsianSIL Executive Committee at that time, Vietnam successfully hosted the mid-term conference in Hanoi in August 2016, attracting a large number of international scholars and experts and leaving a significant mark. Since then, Vietnam has made a considerable contribution to many AsianSIL discussions, from maritime law and human rights to international trade.
In 2022, I was nominated to the Executive Committee and subsequently elected as Vice President of AsianSIL. With efforts to spread knowledge about international law and AsianSIL, my team and I at the International Law Faculty, Diplomatic Academy, have implemented several projects to promote the participation of Vietnamese lecturers and students in AsianSIL. In 2024, as President of AsianSIL, I co-chaired the mid-term conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, alongside the host country's organizing committee.
Notably, Vietnam will host the 10th Plenary Meeting of AsianSIL in October 2025 in Hanoi, with the participation of hundreds of speakers from across Asia and the world. This marks a significant milestone, affirming the S-shaped country's commitment to promoting international law in the region, as well as showcasing its organizational capabilities, accumulated prestige, and the growing strength of its human resources in the field of international law.
Together with you, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh also holds the position of Vice President. How do you view the event where, for the first time, AsianSIL has both a female President and Vice President, both from Vietnam?
When Vietnam registered to host the 10th Meeting, we were well aware that realizing this commitment requires a team well-versed in international law, professional, dedicated, and responsible.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh was my top choice for the position of Head of the Organizing Committee. I also nominated her for the position of Vice President of AsianSIL, which received strong support from the Executive Committee.
This is also the first time a country has both the President and Vice President of AsianSIL as women. I believe, from a certain perspective, this is a strong message about gender equality and the active participation of Asian female scholars in international law. It also demonstrates that Vietnam has a dynamic, young scholar team capable of international integration.
Supporting us is the team of lecturers from the International Law Faculty, Diplomatic Academy. Many of them are female lecturers with strong expertise and foreign language skills, such as Dr. Ngo Thi Trang, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee; MSc. Nguyen Hai Duyen, MSc. Vu Thi Ngoc Trang, MSc. Trinh Phuong Thao, MSc. Bui Thu Thuy.
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| Ambassador, Dr. Pham Lan Dung. (Photo courtesy by the Ambassador) |
What opportunities does the 2025 AsianSIL Plenary Meeting in Hanoi offer to Vietnamese researchers, lecturers, and students, Ambassador?
This will be Asia's largest academic forum on international law. Researchers, legal practitioners, diplomats, lawyers, and lecturers will have the opportunity to participate in 20 sessions as speakers, chairs, or attendees, interacting, exchanging, and even debating on international law topics with experts from across Asia.
In the current context of unprecedented and complex global changes, where the international legal system faces serious challenges, particularly in areas such as ensuring international peace and security, respecting sovereign equality, political independence, and territorial integrity of states, prohibiting the threat or use of force in international relations... I believe this is a unique forum for us to share, discuss, and clarify issues that are the focus of global debate and controversy.
Besides the official sessions, the conference will have a special session for international law students from various countries and law training universities in Vietnam. The conference is a valuable opportunity for Vietnamese students and young researchers to directly engage with international scholars, expand their networks, and showcase their capabilities to the world.
During your presidency, what issues do you prioritize, Ambassador?
Bringing AsianSIL closer to the youth, lecturers, researchers, and students in Vietnam and other Asian countries is my first goal. Inspiring a passion for international law and spreading knowledge about this field to a wider audience is the second goal.
Additionally, we strive to promote in-depth research on international law in Vietnam, while enhancing the status of Vietnam and its experts in this field, aiming for the S-shaped country to have more representation in international adjudicative bodies.
With this approach, Vietnam's hosting of the 10th Plenary Meeting, attracting hundreds of international speakers from all Asian countries and representatives from other continents, creates a continent-scale international legal scientific forum. Here, anyone can directly participate, contribute, present opinions, and share perspectives.
Do you have any messages for lecturers and young students interested in AsianSIL?
AsianSIL is not only for professors, lawyers, and seasoned scholars. Students, graduate students, and young lecturers can become members, participate in events, contribute ideas, write articles, conduct research, and receive scholarships and support from the organization.
I believe this is an opportunity for you to practice, publish academically, and connect internationally. Be bold in participating, practice, and develop. One day in the future, you could be the Presidents or Vice Presidents of AsianSIL.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
| The Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) holds its Plenary Meeting biennially, with the participation of scholars and international law experts from many Asian countries and around the world. Over nine sessions, the conference has made a mark and succeeded in establishing a forum for professional exchange on international law fields, while connecting the international law research community in Asia. In 2025, the Diplomatic Academy, in collaboration with AsianSIL, will organize the 10th Plenary Meeting with the theme "Enhancing the Role of International Law in Asia", from October 9-10, 2025. The program is expected to feature leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; leaders from the Ministry of Justice; representatives from educational and research institutions; representatives from many international organizations; and leading international law experts from Vietnam and the world. |
