Vietnam affirms commitment to ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Over the past year, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community has continued to demonstrate its role in connecting people and making efforts to bring practical benefits to the people of ASEAN countries.

Mr. Luu Quang Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaking at the Conference. (Photo: Do ​​Ba Thanh/VNA)

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Laos, the 32nd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Ministerial Meeting took place in the capital Vientiane on the morning of September 26, chaired by Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket and heads of delegations in charge of the Socio-Cultural Community of 10 ASEAN member countries; ASEAN Secretary General; Timor Leste participated as an observer. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Mr. Luu Quang Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. With the theme "ASEAN: Promoting Connectivity and Resilience", for nearly a year, the ASEAN Community and each ASEAN member country have been promoting the implementation of many activities, in which the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community continues to demonstrate its role in connecting people and making efforts to bring practical benefits to the people of ASEAN countries. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Luu Quang Tuan said that Vietnam is pleased to acknowledge the contributions of all specialized agencies of the Community in implementing specific related activities, as well as continuing to implement the Work Plans to achieve the set results, especially when ASEAN is moving towards 2025, the pivotal year to conclude the Master Plan of the Socio-Cultural Community and towards the ASEAN Vision 2045, entering a new phase of cooperation after 10 years of the establishment of the ASEAN Community; highly appreciated the efforts of senior officials in charge of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA), with support from the ASEAN Secretariat, in coordinating and discussing to prepare for the common activities of the Community, especially the development of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan after 2025.

Image of the "Golden Bridge" in Da Nang appeared at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Do ​​Ba Thanh/VNA)

Mr. Luu Quang Tuan said that Vietnam is committed to working with member countries to further promote the implementation of initiatives, create increasingly close links between relevant areas of the Community, as well as enhance ASEAN's cohesion and understanding to build an image of a dynamic, integrated and sustainably developing ASEAN in the international arena; emphasizing that ASEAN can only be strong when there is solidarity, always considering and placing people at the center, prioritizing the promotion of people's welfare and happiness. The contents on ASEAN's development, connectivity, and actions to respond to challenges, risks and climate change will continue to require ASEAN's further efforts.

Delegates take a group photo at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Do ​​Ba Thanh/VNA)

Each member country in particular and ASEAN in general need to focus resources and expand partnerships to achieve strategic goals and the overall goal of improving the lives of ASEAN people. This is also the focus throughout the process of building the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. At the conference, delegates listened to updated reports on ASCC priority areas in 2024 and the goals achieved during the 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship term chaired by Laos; at the same time, they raised the highlights of many other issues and will consider and approve the draft report of the 32nd ASCC Council Meeting at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits.

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