On September 16, 2024, at 10:00 AM Tehran time, a joint online roundtable titled “West and East Asia: Similarities and Common Interests” was held between the Sharif Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT) and the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO). The event brought together Iranian and Vietnamese scholars, diplomats, and officials to discuss the general situation in both West and East Asia, as well as the shared interests and opportunities for cooperation between the two regions.

The roundtable was co-chaired by Ali Salehian, Senior Researcher at GPTT, and Phan Anh Son, President of VUFO. Participants included senior advisors and researchers from Allameh Tabatabai University and Tehran University, as well as representatives from the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam. On the Vietnamese side, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute for African and Middle Eastern Studies, and Vietnam National University were in attendance.

The primary focus of the conference was to explore opportunities and challenges in fostering stronger ties between Vietnam and Iran, touching upon areas such as diplomacy, culture, education, science, and economics. The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Afshani, Director of International Affairs at GPTT, who emphasized the importance of cultural heritage in connecting countries within the region. He also discussed the complex transformations taking place in West Asia and called on nations like Vietnam to work together in promoting peace and protecting vulnerable populations.

Dr. Safavi, Senior Researcher at GPTT, followed by addressing key issues related to economic cooperation. He highlighted the importance of finding alternatives to SWIFT for financial transactions between the two countries, improving visa policies to facilitate travel, and the potential for joint academic research. He acknowledged the language barrier as a potential challenge but suggested that improving direct connections between Iran and Vietnam could help overcome this issue. Dr. Safavi also underscored the need to counter Western media narratives about the Middle East, stating that countries like Iran should be understood from within rather than through external lenses.

In response, the Vietnamese side mentioned that obtaining a visa for Vietnam is relatively easy and can be done online for a small fee. However, Dr. Safavi pointed out the difficulty Iranians face in transferring money internationally.

Dr. Le Phuoc Minh, former Director of the Vietnam Institute for African and Middle Eastern Studies, spoke about the 50-year history of diplomatic relations between Iran and Vietnam, noting that political ties have remained strong despite some limitations in economic cooperation, with trade turnover ranging between $100 to $200 million annually. He emphasized the potential for deeper regional integration and cooperation, especially in the Halal industry, which has significant growth potential in both countries.

The next panelist, Dr. Mojtaba Hoseini, Senior Researcher at GPTT, discussed the development of West Asia following the 2003 Iraq War. He focused on Iran’s discourse of resistance as a key element of its soft power and foreign policy, transcending ethnic and religious identities to unite people through shared values. Dr. Hoseini also explained how this discourse has become a self-sustaining force in Iran’s geopolitical strategy, mobilizing various groups within and beyond the region.

Mrs. Pham Ngoc Thuy, a PhD candidate and lecturer at Vietnam National University, impressed the audience with her fluency in Farsi, having lived in Iran. She spoke about the similarities between Vietnamese and Iranian patriotism and nationalism, and highlighted the opportunities for increased collaboration between the two nations in areas like culture, education, and tourism.

In the final moments of the meeting, Dr. Emamian expressed his view that the roundtable was a positive step toward improving intellectual and cultural relationships between the two countries. He stressed the need for future discussions to be more open, particularly when addressing challenging issues. Dr. Emamian suggested several topics for upcoming sessions, including Vietnam’s economic development and its competitive success in South Asia. He also encouraged Vietnamese scholars to discuss their country’s foreign policy and its stance toward the United States, as well as the national resistance against the U.S. Another topic that Dr. Emamian mentioned as another possible topic for the next meetings was how Vietnamese intellectuals perceive think tanks and their role in shaping national policy. Dr. Emamian concluded by thanking both sides for organizing the meeting.

In his closing remarks, VUFO President Phan Anh Son reiterated that Vietnam and Iran share many common goals for national development. He announced plans for further roundtable discussions between VUFO and GPTT, intending to deepen cooperation and understanding between the two countries. These future dialogues will focus on expanding economic, cultural, and academic ties, aligning with the potential of Vietnam-Iran relations.