The Ministers to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council’s 12th meeting at Bagan, Myanmar on September 30 agreed to undertake maximum efforts to shape the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by 2015.

Speaking at the meeting, themed “Moving forward in unity to a peaceful and prosperous community”, Dr. SaiMauk Kham, Vice President of Myanmar, highlighted the importance of the event in a joint effort to build a people-oriented and socially responsible community by 2015. He also underscored the need for a long-term vision to achieve enduring solidarity and unity among the member states and their people.

During the Plenary, the Ministers acknowledged the report submitted by the Chair of the 17 th SOCA Meeting, which included the progress made by the ASCC Working Group to Follow-Up on the Recommendations of the ASCC Blueprint MTR and Coordinate Post-2015 Vision, as well as, the recommendations of the High Level Task Force on Strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat and Reviewing the ASEAN organs.

In this connection, the Ministers supported the draft ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change 2014, which is expected to be adopted by the leaders during the 25 th ASEAN Summit on November 25 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

The Ministers welcomed Myanmar’s proposal on the establishment of the ASEAN Institute for Green Economy in Yangon, Myanmar and also agreed in principle to the proposal on framing the ASCC Post 2015, a review exercise presented by the ASEAN Secretariat.-VNA