The Diplomatic Academy, based in Hanoi, is both a reputed research institute in the field of International Relations and a training institute for diplomatic staff from Vietnam and other East Asian countries. Colleagues from the Department of Political Science, the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) and the Theresan Military Academy attended the workshop as well.

The very frank discussions addressed the topics of: the strategic situation in the Indo-Pacific, in particular China's rise and the policies of the United States; as well as the impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Thereby it became obvious how strongly these dynamic developments affect not only the regional countries, but also the European Union.