Members attending the Conference were researchers from universities and research institutes in Thailand (Thammasat University, Chiang Mai University, Chulalongkong University, Khon Kaen University…); in Vietnam (University of Economics and Business - VNU, Research Institute of North East Asia, Vietnam Academy of Social Science, Central Institute for Economic Management); and other representatives from international research organizations operating in Thailand (Japan Foundation, Japan Watch Project, China Watch Project). 

In the Conference, the research results for the first period of cooperating between Vietnamese and Thailand researchers on “Economic Transition and Social Changes of Countries in Asian Sub-region” funded by Thailand Research Fund (TRF) were announced. In this period, researchers from the 2 countries studied the issues of each country. However, those issues were selected by the 2 countries to create the first step for the comparative research in the next period. There were over 20 reports classified into 4 main parts (i) Economic development and social equality, (ii) Monetary policy and financial & banking system, (iii) Economy and political and social issues, (iv) Social changes. Researchers from the UEB - VNU also contributed 5 reports to the Conference: 1) “Banking System of Vietnam: Reform Strategies and Transition Assessment” by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, 2) “Monetary Policy in Vietnam” by Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, 3) “Inequality in Tertiary Education Attainment in Viet Nam: Evidence from Viet Nam Household Living Standard Surveys” by Dr. Vu Quoc Huy, 4) “Challenges to Economic and Human Development in the Mekong Sub-region: Economic Growth and Income distribution in Vietnam from 1986 to 2008” by Dr. Bui Dai Dung, and 5) “Decentralization and Local Governance on Public services Delivery: the cases of Daknong and Hau Giang province in Vietnam” by Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet.

In the Conference, on behalf of the UEB - VNU, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Son delivered the speech to express his gratitude to TRF that created good conditions for researchers of the UEB to cooperate with researchers in Thailand. This helped researchers of the 2 countries exchange and get more experiences about the socio-economic issues of the 2 countries in particular and sub-regions in Asia in general

Reports of researchers from the UEB - VNU were highly appreciated by TRF and Thailand researchers about the scientific quality as well as the application into reality. Through the comments, ideas of the researchers, especially the partners who studied the same titles and areas, the reports will be revised to publish in the summary record of the Conference and will be selected to publish in international research magazines.

During the Conference, the research group of Vietnam, the representatives of TRF and research partners in Thailand also discussed the next cooperation period and agree to continue the research cooperation in the second period. As a result, Vietnamese and Thailand researchers will continue studying the similar titles basing on the implemented researches but those researches would be more intensive, extensive and comparative between two countries.

Those activities of research group of the UEB - VNU reflected the open research orientation and also were one of the first steps to participate actively in regional and global research network.

Reports in full can be downloaded from this link.