VANG VIENG, 29 October 2023 – The ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Culture and Arts (SOMCA) held its 19th SOMCA Meeting alongside 15th SOMCA Plus Three, 11th SOMCA Plus China, 10th SOMCA Plus Japan, and 10th SOMCA Plus Republic of Korea Meetings, on 24-25 October.

Lao PDR’s Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, as SOMCA Chair, hosted the meetings which took place in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, Lao PDR.  

The 19th SOMCA discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Culture and Arts 2016-2025, including cultural cooperation under the ASEAN Committee for Culture and Information (COCI) and Dialogue Partners.

SOMCA was also apprised of the cultural activities that were implemented under Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN. SOMCA Lao PDR took the opportunity to apprise the meeting on the cultural activities that Lao PDR had implemented under the ASEAN City of Culture initiative, as well as proposed cultural extravaganza that Lao PDR will organise during its Chairmanship of ASEAN next year.

Other substantive policy matters discussed include the ASEAN Cultural Heritage List, and the key performance indicators for the culture sector.

Suanesavanh VIGNAKET, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR, and Daohueang NANTHAVONG, Vice Governor of Vientiane Province graced the opening ceremony, which also showcased a video on Lao PDR as an attractive tourist destination. The link to the video can be found here.