VIENTIANE, 13 August 2024 – The ASEAN Socio Cultural Community (ASCC) Council High-Level Interface with Parliamentarians, ASCC Eminent Persons and Chairs of ASCC Sectoral Ministerial Bodies took place on 12-13 August in Vientiane.
The interface served as a venue for the ASCC to gain valuable insights and exchange views on key matters that will influence the ASCC beyond 2025 such as developments in policy and legislative mechanisms and processes, changes in the socio-economic landscape both within the region and globally, and regional and national priorities that could possibly affect the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.
The high-level interface was chaired by ASCC Council Chair and Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Suanesavanh Vignaket. She commended the active participation and engagement of all stakeholders in the development process of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, and emphasised their critical role in ensuring that ASCC priorities captures the needs and aspirations of the ASEAN Peoples.
She further highlighted that these initiatives are a way to help the ASCC in thinking deeper, developing a shared understanding among all participants of the issues, challenges and factors that ASCC need to consider, and what the ASCC want to create.
The ASCC Council Interface with Parliamentarians, which took place in the morning, highlighted key areas in policy making and legislative mechanism that could further support and enhance the ASCC agenda beyond 2025 and contribute to the sustainable implementation of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan.
The discussion also underlined the importance of stakeholders’ active engagement and involvement in all levels to ensure relevant, specific and effective policy initiatives that can address the impact of emerging trends, socio-economic changes, and regional and global developments.
Meanwhile the ASCC Council Interface with ASCC Eminent Persons, held in the afternoon, served as a platform for experts to exchange views and insights on regional and global changes, especially within the socio-economic areas that could potentially impact the ASCC beyond 2025. Key areas such as ensuring ASEAN centrality and a shared ASEAN identity while navigating these changes, as well as enhancing public and diplomatic relationships to ensure ASCC’s relevance and influence were also discussed.
Finally, the ASCC Council High-Level Interface with Chairs of ASCC Sectoral Ministerial Bodies on 13 August underscored the importance of strategic foresight in anticipating the implications of the changes beyond 2025 and in the implementation of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan.
Recommendations centred on strategic approaches and ways to address emerging trends and challenges, ensure human and sustainable development and amplify the works of ASCC in the regional and international arenas were put forth.
The High-Level Interface also reaffirmed the commitment of ASEAN and ASCC in enhancing the quality of life of the ASEAN peoples and ensure the promotion and preservation of ASEAN identity, integration, and centrality amidst various regional and global challenges.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASCC Ekkaphab Phanthavong expressed his appreciation to the ASCC Council for its active involvement in the development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan. He emphasised that investing in key human and sustainable development areas can help the ASCC community in navigating better the different socio-economic challenges that might affect ASEAN in the next years.
The ASCC Council High-Level Interface is part of the activities of the “Supporting the Development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan Project” under the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0.
