Development of ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan Calls Attention to Strong Cross-pillar Response and Coordination
The Seventh Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group Meeting to Develop the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan was convened on 23-24 September in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Director General of International Cooperation Department at Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and SOCA Leader of Lao PDR, Khamphou Phiasackha, and Under Secretary of International Relations Division (Culture) at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, Dr. Christina Yeo Ken Yin, Deputy Director General Phiasackha expressed his appreciation for the significant progress in developing the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan. He underscored the need for strong cross-pillar response and coordination to address urgent and complex issues and challenges facing the region such as climate change and emerging health threats. In her remarks, Undersecretary Yeo Ken Yin commended the comprehensive and rigorous review in finalising the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan to ensure that it reflects sectoral priorities and resonates with the needs of the ASCC.
The meeting made good progress towards finalising a total of 115 strategic measures that provide specific and targeted actions in addressing emerging trends and challenges that could affect ASEAN especially in promoting human and sustainable development in the region.
It also served as a platform to exchange views and perspective on the implementation of the strategic plan particularly on communication approaches, strategies for resource mobilisation, review, and implementation arrangements which serve as critical areas in ensuring its successful, effective and sustainable implementation.
Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong commended the steady progress of the Strategic Plan development especially in ensuring its participatory and inclusive process through the various stakeholder engagement initiatives.
He highlighted that the Strategic Plan marks only the start of ASCC’s journey beyond 2025, and its implementation will be critical especially in light of regional and global shifts and developments. He also expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for its unwavering support to the Ad Hoc Working Group to Develop the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan.
The meeting is supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0 as part of the activities to develop the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan.
