Promoting an inclusive, sustainable and identifiable ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
WVR - Socio-cultural cooperation always plays an important role for ASEAN to promote comprehensive, equitable, inclusive and sustainable development, leaving no one behind.
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| The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community aims to improve and enhance the lives and spirit of the ASEAN people. (Photo: asean.org) |
Efforts to build the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) contribute to improving the lives and uplifting the spirit of the people, thereby contributing to economic recovery - social stability, strengthening solidarity and ASEAN identity.
Implementing 66% of the action lines
ASCC is one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community with 15 specialized agencies, in charge of many areas directly related to people such as: social welfare and development, labor - employment, rural development, hunger and poverty eradication, climate change response, etc..
Over the past time, with the principles of putting the people at the center, serving the people, affirming its important position in the development process of each country and region, ASCC has proactively and actively cooperated with the two pillars of politics - security and economics to address challenges toward sustainable development, peace and prosperity in the ASEAN region.
By the end of the first 6 months of this year, ASEAN had implemented 66% of the action lines under the Master Plan to build the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) 2025, strengthened the implementation of ASEAN documents at the national level (the number of ASEAN documents accompanying national laws, policies, and programs increased by 23% compared to the previous year); completed 36 socio-cultural initiatives out of a total of 72 common initiatives under the ASEAN Master Recovery Plan and accelerated the implementation of work programs of specialized channels.
Under the leadership of President Indonesia with the theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth", ASEAN agreed to focus socio-cultural cooperation in 2023 on five priorities: strengthening the regional health architecture, developing rural development, protecting biodiversity to mitigate the impact of climate change, strengthening labor capacity, protecting migrant workers and promoting inclusive development for the disabilities.
At the 42nd ASEAN Summit (Indonesia, May 2023), ASEAN Leaders approved the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on the One Health initiative, ASEAN Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations, ASEAN Declaration on Employment Arrangement and Protection of Migrant Workers Working on Fishing Vessels and the Declaration of ASEAN leaders on the establishment of the ASEAN Village Network.
Currently, ASEAN is also discussing the topic of ASCC after 2025 to ensure cohesion and compatibility between the three pillars and ensure the future of ASEAN to be suitable for the needs of the people of the region.
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| A photo exhibition on ASEAN Community in Lam Dong province. (Photo: WVR) |
Vietnam's commitment and efforts
In recent years, Vietnam has always focused on promoting the implementation of the ASCC Master Plan to 2025. Specifically, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 161/QD-TTg dated January 25, 2016 approving "Project to develop and implement the Plan to implement ASCC's goals until 2025" (referred to as Project 161), which directs the integration of ASCC's goals into programs and national projects.
In 2020, marking the 5th anniversary of the official establishment of the ASEAN Community and also the mid-term year evaluating the implementation of the Master Plans of all three pillars of the ASEAN Vision, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, as Chairman of ASCC 2020, chaired and led the completion of all documents and Declarations to submit to the 36th and 37th ASEAN Summits for approval and recognition two important Declarations: the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work and the Hanoi Declaration on Promoting Social Work towards a Cohesive and Proactive ASEAN Community Adaptation.
During the past years, in addition to supporting and implementing the Community's priorities set by the ASEAN Chairmanship, the contents of ASCC 2025 have been integrated into programs and plans and implemented extensively from central to local levels in all cultural and social fields. This shows that connecting regional and national priorities during the construction and implementation process will ensure feasibility and sustainability.
The results of implementing Project 161 in particular and the ASCC 2025 Master Plan in Vietnam have so far gained many achievements, as shown in many areas such as escaping poverty, ensuring access to safe water and sanitation for every family, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and ensuring school-age children go to school, promoting sustainable employment, strengthening environmental protection, etc.., thus contributing greatly to the overall results of the Southeast Asia region and promoting the image of ASEAN in Vietnam.
The endevours of Vietnam also demonstrate the country's commitment to the ASEAN Community, especially to the ASCC, not only in terms of guidelines, orientations and policies but also towards specific actions implemented at the national and regional level.
Within the framework of the 43rd ASEAN Summit (43rd ASEAN Summit) and related activities in the Indonesian capital - Jakarta last September, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is a reliable partner, an active and responsible member in ASEAN. Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with Indonesia and other countries in ASEAN to strive for a united, unified, resilient and developed ASEAN, contributing to maintaining the peace, stability, cooperation and common development in the region and the world.
