VIENTIANE: Representatives of Asean member countries gathered in Vientiane on Monday (Aug 12) for Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council high-level interfaces with parliamentarians, ASCC eminent persons, and chairs of ASCC sectoral ministerial bodies to discuss the ASCC post-2025 strategic plan.
The meeting is taking place on Aug 12-13, chaired by Laos’ Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Suanesavanh Vignaket.
The meeting is the first to be held this year under Laos’ chairmanship of Asean chairmanship to discuss the Asean Socio-Cultural Community’s development plans beyond 2025.
Participants will jointly contribute to the creation of strategies to increase the Community’s policy-making and improve existing legislative mechanisms.
They will decide on ways to make the Asean Socio-Cultural Community more flexible and able to adapt to the uncertainties and complexities of the region and the world.
It is important to ensure that Community members are able to influence and relate to each other in the coming decade and to seize the opportunity to enhance integration within the region and bolster the centrality of Asean, Suanesavanh said.
The meeting will also determine possible opportunities for cooperation with parliaments to develop the role of the Asean International Council in support of the Asean Socio-Cultural Community’s plans post-2025.
“I believe that from your leadership, experience and vision, you will be a strong force to help us build a good future for the Asean Socio-Cultural Community after 2025,” Suanesavanh told meeting participants.
Participants shared ideas on the Community’s future plans, such as strategies and methods that can be endorsed to improve policies under the pillars of the Community to support an effective agenda going forward.
The comments made by participants will be considered for inclusion in the post-2025 plan. - Vientiane Times/ANN
