The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Welfare organised a national conference on “The value of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)” on September 17, in preparation of the establishment of the ASEAN Community (AC) in 2015.

The conference is part of the Ministry’s Action Plan for ASEAN Cooperation 2014 in its role as ASCC coordinator in Vietnam. The conference aims to enhance media coverage of ASEAN under the framework of a promotional plan developed by the Ministry of Information and Communication.

The conference discussed the main aspects of ASEAN cooperation; the impacts of the ASEAN Political-Security Community and the ASEAN Economic Community; the value of the ASCC; and the AC’s Post-2015 Vision.

In order to implement the guidelines devised by ASEAN leaders, the ASCC proposed a number of priority actions, such as the development of a plan of action and the implementation of the Mid-Term Review of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint and the AC’s Post-2015 Vision.

Clarifying the values of ASEAN in general, and of the ASCC in particular, will help contribute to a stronger and more successful AC in 2015.-VNA