Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Vietnam made a strong and effective contribution to the 33rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting, reaffirming its support for and commitment to fully implementing the ASCC Master Plan 2025.
Addressing the event, held on April 24 in Malaysia, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang emphasised Vietnam’s confidence in the future of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under Malaysia’s chairmanship, expressing his hope that the bloc will continue to play a pivotal role in regional cooperation, effectively address challenges, maintain resilience and prosperity, and prepare for a more unified, integrated, innovative, and inclusive ASEAN Community by 2045.
Thang also updated participants on Vietnam’s efforts to streamline the organisational apparatus of the state governance system, aimed at better serving the public. These efforts, along with institutional reform and improvements to the quality of public servants, are designed to meet national development needs in the new era and usher Vietnam into a new phase of dynamic growth. This, he noted, creates favourable conditions for Vietnam to engage more proactively and substantially in ASEAN, particularly in implementing tasks under the Socio-Cultural Community pillar.
As part of its continued commitment to the ASCC Master Plan 2025, the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs will develop and submit a new proposal to the Prime Minister to implement the ASCC Strategic Plan aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, once the strategy is adopted by ASEAN leaders.
Thang highlighted three key strategic priorities for ASEAN moving forward: strengthening unity and the central role of the people; enhancing connectivity with a whole-of-community approach to ensure equitable access to opportunities and leave no one behind; and upholding ASEAN's centrality while promoting partnerships for shared benefit. He also underscored the importance of communication, particularly in raising public awareness about ASEAN’s values and significance.
Looking back on a decade of progress, ministers and heads of delegation applauded the ASCC’s achievements, noting that 99% of the Master Plan’s action lines have been effectively implemented. These outcomes contribute significantly to the realisation of a people-oriented, people-centred, and socially responsible ASEAN Community.
They also welcomed the completion of the ASCC Strategic Plan aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. In addition, the meeting discussed and endorsed the development of a post-2025 ASCC Results Framework to support the plan’s implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
A Joint Statement was adopted at the conclusion of the meeting, and delegates agreed in principle on several key documents to be submitted for approval at the 46th ASEAN Summit./.
