Share Tweet Share Stories, food and belonging: Jennifer Wong explores Australia's regional Chinese restaurants On 3 September, Griffith Asia Institute welcomed writer, comedian and broadcaster Jennifer Wong to the latest Perspectives: Asia lecture at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. Drawing on the acclaimed ABC series and book Chopsticks or Fork?, Jennifer took the audience on a journey through regional Australia, exploring the history, culture and community connections found in Chinese restaurants across the country. Read more... Vietnam’s Đổi Mới reforms have transformed exports – but efficiency remains a challenge  Forty years after Vietnam launched its Đổi Mới reforms, the country has transformed from a centrally planned economy into a major player in global trade. The reforms, introduced in 1986, opened the economy to foreign investment, encouraged private enterprise, reduced trade barriers and strengthened Vietnam’s integration with international markets. ASEAN membership in 1995, WTO membership in 2007 and subsequent free trade agreements accelerated this transformation. Read more... The hidden cost of financial crime regulation: What FATF evaluations mean for banks Efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing are essential to maintaining trust and stability in the global financial system. But for banks, meeting increasingly demanding international standards comes with a significant and often overlooked cost. New research from Griffith University examines what happens to bank operating costs after countries undergo evaluations by the Financial Action Task Force. Read more... Why customer stability matters for business finance in China For many businesses, getting paid by customers is only part of the equation. Keeping the cash flowing between buying inputs and receiving customer payments can be just as important – and supplier credit can play a critical role. New research into Chinese listed firms suggests that the strength and stability of a company’s customer relationships can influence how much credit its suppliers are willing to provide.  Read more... Griffith alumnus honoured for distinguished diplomatic career A Griffith University graduate whose career has helped strengthen Laos’ relationships across Asia, the Pacific and Africa has been recognised with the 2026 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Griffith Business School. Dr Bounthanongsack (Bo) Chanthalath, who completed a PhD at Griffith in 2016, is the Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR. Over more than two decades in diplomacy, he has played a key role in building international partnerships, advancing regional cooperation and promoting mutual understanding between nations. Read more... When doing good comes at a cost: What mandatory CSR means for investors in India Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is often seen as a win-win: companies contribute to society while strengthening their reputation, building stakeholder trust and creating value for shareholders. But what happens when CSR is no longer a choice? New research examining India’s mandatory CSR regime suggests the answer may be complicated. Rather than rewarding companies for their social spending, investors may view compulsory CSR expenditure as a cost – with consequences for stock returns. Read more... Andres Chai | Following the money: Uncovering the global shadow economy EVENTS RESEARCH SEMINARS 12.00-1.00pm (AEST) | N72_0.17 Nathan campus •  Thursday 1 October Fifty years of Myanmar (Burma) studies | Andrew Selth •  Thursday 29 October Vietnamese organised crime in its international dimension | Hai Luong •  Thursday 5 November Vietnam after 40 years of Đổi Mới | Raghuvir Kelkar RSVP: gai@griffith.edu.au •  Thursday 12 November 5.30-6.30pm (AEST) QAGOMA, Doors open at 5:00pm Perspectives:Asia | TBA | Avani Dias (Four Corners) AUDIO/VIDEO Fear+Greed | Q&A: Can Big Data be used for good? | Andreas Chai VOV | Vietnam's Spectacular Transformation After 40 Years of Renewal | Raghuvir Kelkar Bula COP31 | Episode 'V' for Vanuatu: "We're Not Going to Give Up on 1.5" | Tess Newton Cain RNZ | Men are from Mars but women are stuck on Earth | Elise Stephenson ARTICLES Following the global dirty money trail | Andreas Chai, Matthew Manning and Elena Stepanova Asia Pacific Report | Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Koror – heavy on reaffirming but light on tasking | Tess Newton Cain and Stefan Armbruster The Interpreter | Beyond the count: the killing of Indigenous women as a security crisis | Kyllie Cripps and Sara Davies PUBLICATIONS The Gender Index Report 2026 | Naomi Birdthistle Unpacking financial (dis)engagement of young adults transitioning into the workforce: An investigation of financial habit clusters | Jennifer Harrison, Elisabeth Sinnewe, Steffen Westermann, Gavin Nicholson Sustainability assurance quality, cost of debt and financial constraints: Evidence from Australia | Ann Ho, Shireenjit Johl, Ingrid Millar, Robyn Cameron Impact of mandatory corporate social responsibility expenditure on stock return: empirical evidence from India | Atul Ghorpade, Sabuj Kumar Mandal, Alberto Posso Financial market architecture and long-run equity market co-movement: Structural evidence from the G20 | Sama Haddad, Rakesh Gupta, Selva Selvanathan, Saroja Selvanathan and Tarlok Singh Does institutional quality matter for domestic bond market development? | Dian Wahidin, Alexandr Akimov, Eduardo Roca and Nicholas Rohde Cultural celebrations and investor gambling behavior | John Fan, Mingyi Li and Xinyu Wang Call the Zookeeper: A Unified Framework for Commodity Risk Premiums | John Fan et al. Banking for public finance: struggling for a balance | Hui Feng The role of customer stability in corporate trade credit provision | Youcong Chao, Fang Hu, Guowan Yan, Jing Yang New Books in Southeast Asian Studies podcast series: •  In the Shadow of the Khmer Rouge: A Child Survivor's Memoir | Lim Muy Lang MEDIA ‘Saved the day’: How China helped keep the lid on oil price surge as Iran war disrupted supplies CNBC | Dan Wang Xi’s India visit with 400-member BRICS delegation aims to overcome ‘deep-seated mistrust,’ gain market access  Vision Times | Ian Hall Where the US-China tariff row stands ahead of White House summit AFP | Dan Wang Griffith researcher explores what’s next for Vietnam after 40 years of Đổi Mới Griffith News | Raghuvir Kelkar China’s wealthy brace for a widening tax net as Beijing closes in CNBC | Dan Wang New Gender Index reveals major economic opportunity in supporting women-led businesses Griffith News | Naomi Birdthistle Chinese beauty product exporters are sitting pretty despite US trade dispute Economic Times | Dan Wang Australia strikes in-principle agreement with Solomon Islands for new treaty Europe Says | Tess Newton Cain SCO condemns strikes on Iran and calls for de-escalation UA News | Ian Hall ICAO in push to advance women’s empowerment in aviation Runway Girl Network | Elise Stephenson ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations to GAI members, Gunaro Setiawan for his Excellence in Teaching Award, and to Ryan Tang for being awarded the Dean's Commendation for Teaching.   Griffith Asia Institute Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan QLD 4111 email gai@griffith.edu.au We acknowledge the people who are the traditional custodians of the land and pay respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 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