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INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA

(MITI), Ms Rajeswari Veerasanai, Former Ambassador & Professor Dr Sufian Jusoh. The welcoming remarks
Permanent Representative to World Trade Organisation were delivered by Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Dato’
(WTO), Dato’ Muhammad Noor Yacob, Mr. Pierre Sauve Saifuddin Abdullah.
from World Bank Group, Geneva and Former Dean,
World Trade Institute, University of Bern, Dr Andika The online forum was attended by 140 participants from
Wahab from National University of Malaysia and various embassies and high commissions, officials from
Institute of Malaysian & International Studies (IKMAS), relevant ministries, government agencies, think tanks
Senior Development Economist for UNDP Malaysia, and higher learning institutions and others.
Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Dr Haniza Khalid,
EU Ambassador to Philippines (2015-2019), H.E Dr In his welcoming remarks, the Minister began by
Franz Jessen, EU Ambassador to Viet Nam (2011-2015), congratulating IDFR for its sterling 30 years as the
Professor of International Trade Law, Bocconi University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ training arm. Subsequently,
and Former Team Leader of the EU-Vietnam Multilateral the Minister shared his insight on the current crisis
Trade Assistance Programme (EU-MUTRAP), Prof of global pandemic and the role of international state
Claudio Dordi, and finally, Director of Central Institute and non-state actors in addressing the politics and
for Economic Management, Hanoi, Vietnam Mr Nguyen the economics of public health, medical supplies and
Anh Duong. Through this course, the participants had vaccine diplomacy. He also highlighted the importance
the benefit of exchanging their views and opinions for Malaysia to lead the way in health diplomacy as the
in understanding related issues from different world manoeuvres its way in handling the pandemic.
perspectives.
Mr Lamy stated that COVID-19 has exposed a huge
disparity between the different organisations (private
and governmental), in providing the necessary
cooperation. As a result, the post-COVID world will be
more challenging than it has already been prior to the
COVID-19 pandemic. He also elaborated on the three
(3) major gaps that COVID-19 has created – ‘the North
and South’, ‘the East and West’ and ‘the Haves and
Have-Nots’. He hypothesised that the gaps would create
an asymmetric economic and health shock as the
developed countries have the advantage and resources
to recover better and faster than the developing
IDFR Forum 2021 countries. Despite the virus’ equal impact on everyone,
the health system and vaccine distributions were
IDFR celebrated its 30th anniversary with a forum proven to be highly unequal. The “Haves and Have-
titled “Post-COVID World: Mind the Gaps!” which Nots” asymmetry showed how COVID-19 has impacted
was organised on 14 September 2021. The forum those with lower quality of life unequally compared
featured the renowned President Emeritus of Jacques to those who have a better quality of life. This would
Delors Institute, and former Director-General of the further create disparity and generate social discontent,
World Trade Organization (WTO), Mr Pascal Lamy, as social unrest, and political disruptions, hence making
the Guest Speaker. This session was moderated by international cooperation more challenging.
IDFR’s Distinguished Fellow and the Director of IKMAS,

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2021 ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ANNUAL REPORT