BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Brunei's Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Nazmi Awang Mohamad, via video, in a keynote address underscored the significance of the high-level forum on the ‘Development of the Strategy Playbook on promoting an Adaptive Asean Community of Greater Understanding, Tolerance and Sense of Regional Agendas’ as a collective platform for Asean to translate shared aspirations into concrete actions that strengthen understanding, inclusivity, and unity within the region.
He also reaffirmed Brunei’s continued support for Asean’s ongoing initiatives to promote an adaptive and harmonious community that is resilient in the face of global challenges.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in collaboration with the Asean Secretariat, hosted the high-level forum.
The forum builds upon the Strategic Policy Framework on Promoting an Adaptive Asean Community of Greater Understanding, Tolerance and a Sense of Regional Agendas Among the Peoples of Asean, adopted at the 38th Asean Summit in 2021.
The forum served as an interactive platform for stakeholders to deliberate and provide inputs towards the refinement of the draft Strategy Playbook. The forum gathered participants from Asean member states, including representatives from the Senior Officials Committee for the Asean Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA), ASCC sectoral bodies, as well as external experts and partners.
The first panel session, moderated by Permanent Secretary (Community) at the MCYS Nor Ashikin Johari, focussed on the importance of strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration, gaining perspectives by panellists from the Cambodia’s National Institute of Education, Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and the Asean Secretariat.
Meanwhile, the second panel session was moderated by Dr Anna Louise Strachan from Bodhi Global Analysis; focusing on the role of youth, women, and creative peace-building to foster understanding, tolerance and a shared Asean identity by panellists from Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development, former Deputy Secretary-General of Aseanfor the Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and President of the Brunei Youth Council.
The forum aimed to provide additional inputs towards the development of the Strategy Playbook, to operationalise the Strategic Policy Framework by outlining pragmatic, forward-looking and action-oriented measures that can be implemented across the three pillars of Asean.
The Playbook is envisioned to serve as a guiding document for Asean member states, sectoral bodies, and partners in promoting a culture of peace, empathy, and inclusivity throughout the region.
The forum also featured keynote addresses by Secretary-General of Asean Dr Kao Kim Hourn. The forum reaffirms Asean’s collective commitment to fostering understanding, unity, and a shared sense of belonging among its peoples, as the region continues to strengthen its resilience and identity in a rapidly changing global landscape.
