Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 155/QD-TTg dated January 20, 2026 approving the action programme to implement the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Strategic Plan in Vietnam for the 2026–2035 period.
The overall objective of the action programme is to effectively implement the strategic plan, thereby contributing to the building of an integrated, self-reliant, resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community with people at its centre by 2045.
By 2035, the programme aims to realise the strategic plan’s objectives while integrating national development interests and goals to generate added value for both the region and Vietnam. It also targets ensuring that more than 90% of cadres, civil servants and public employees have a basic understanding of the ASCC and its benefits, while strongly promoting awareness of ASEAN identity among the younger generation and the wider public.
Based on the plan, the action programme identifies the implementation of 12 strategic objectives. These include building a people-centred, people-oriented and closely connected community, with seamless mobility of people, goods and services, and shared ownership and ASEAN identity; fully unlocking human potential and improving quality of life through inclusive, sustainable participation and stronger social cohesion, thereby ensuring shared prosperity, particularly for vulnerable groups, and leaving no one behind.
Other objectives focus on optimising demographic advantages to help the bloc become a hub of growth and innovation by promoting inclusive, holistic and transformative education in a supportive learning environment, developing a highly skilled and competitive workforce, and creating decent, high-quality jobs. The programme also seeks to build a healthier ASEAN with longer life expectancy, comprehensive welfare for all age groups, effective prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases, progress towards universal health coverage, and access to sustainable and resilient healthcare systems.
In addition, the programme aims to foster a greener ASEAN by promoting sustainable growth on land and at sea, advancing the green economy and blue economy across the region, and strengthening the bloc’s role in promoting sustainability and responding to climate change.
To achieve these objectives, the Action Programme outlines five key solutions, including reviewing, mainstreaming and implementing the strategic plan’s contents within the plans, policies and programmes of ministries, sectors and centrally governed localities; enhancing communication and advocacy to raise awareness of the ASCC and the action programme; mobilising and attracting resources; and improving organisational structures and capacity-building for officials in line with requirements.
Relevant ministries, sectors and localities are tasked with developing sector-specific action plans to be completed by June, and with submitting annual implementation reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs by December 1 for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.
A mid-term review of the action programme will be conducted in 2030, followed by a final evaluation in 2035./.
VNA
