Senior officials from ASEAN member states gathered to discuss the future of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, focusing on partnerships, communication, and public engagement in the Post-2025 Strategic Plan.
The Regional Consultations with the Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) took place on August 26, 2024, as part of the 6th Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG) Meeting. These consultations are a crucial step in developing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Post-2025 Strategic Plan. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Khamphou Phiasackha, Deputy Director-General of the Planning and International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR, and Dr. Christina Yeo Ken Yin, Under Secretary, International Relations Division (Culture), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia.
During the consultations, SOCA and CPR representatives addressed essential questions related to future-proofing ASEAN, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing communication and public engagement. These discussions provided valuable insights that will inform the development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, which aims to guide ASEAN’s socio-cultural initiatives in the coming years.
The regional consultations are part of the broader initiative under the ‘Supporting the Development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan’ Project, which is supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund 3.0 (JAIF 3.0). This project is instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community beyond 2025, ensuring that ASEAN remains resilient and responsive to future challenges.
Source: ASEAN
