An inter-ministerial meeting to review the mid-term implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community’s master plan in Vietnam was held in Hanoi on August 27.

The event was co-chaired by ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen and Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh.

Participants at the meeting agreed that Vietnam has positively taken part in the implementation of the master plan, which was approved by ASEAN leaders at their summit in Thailand in 2009, nationally and regionally.

Between 2009 and 2012, the country integrated the implementation of the community’s common goals in related projects and made progress in social, educational, cultural, environmental and scientific-technological sectors.

At a regional level, the country figured out priorities that need to be addressed, such as enhancing social welfare, developing human resources, strengthening the power and welfare of vulnerable groups and coping with climate change.

In its capacity as ASEAN Chair in 2010, Vietnam made efforts in building ASEAN declarations regarding the environment, human resources development and social welfare for women and children.

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community’s master plan covers such issues as the living environment and the rights and welfare of people, especially vulnerable groups, which are suitable to all ASEAN member nations’ desires.

The effective implementation of the master plan will contribute to accelerating the formation of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA