The Sixth Ad Hoc Working Group Meeting to develop the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Post-2025 Strategic Plan convened from 24-25 August 2024 at the ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting focused on refining the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, building upon previous discussions and incorporating valuable insights from stakeholders.

In their opening remarks, Deputy Director-General of Planning and International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism of the Lao PDR, Khamphou Phiasackha  and Under Secretary, International Relations Division (Culture), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, Dr. Christina Yeo Ken Yin, acted as the Co-Chairs and noted that the development of the ASCC strategic Plan 2025 is well on track and commended the broad range of stakeholder consultations that have been convened. The Co-Chairs highlighted the importance of these stakeholder engagements to ensure relevance of the Strategic Plan and the need to address the impact of emerging trends, regional and global developments.

The meeting engaged in discussions to refine the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan in an effort to ensure that the strategic plan aligns with broader ASEAN goals and addresses the region’s evolving needs. The meeting also delved into cross-cutting issues such as enhancing partnerships and identifying strategies to enhance the ASCC’s impact and relevance in the coming years.

The development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan is a crucial step towards building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN Community. The 7th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group to Develop the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan is planned to take place in September 2024 in Vientiane, the Lao PDR.

The meeting is part of the activities under the ‘Supporting the Development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan’ Project supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund 3.0 (JAIF 3.0).

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) supported a feasibility study and detailed design and preparation support which contributed to the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). Japan is committed to the operationalisation of ACPHEED and will continue to support ASEAN’s efforts in strengthening its capabilities to prepare for, support, detect and respond to public health emergencies and emerging diseases in the region.

Health is one of the sectors covered by 130 cooperation items of the Implementation Plan of the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Japan is committed to working together with ASEAN as Trusted Partners to implement measures to realise the Joint Vision Statement and further strengthen cooperation.

The ASEAN Socio Cultural Community (ASCC) Council High-Level Interface with Parliamentarians, ASCC Eminent Persons and Chairs of ASCC Sectoral Ministerial Bodies took place on 12-13 August in Vientiane.

The interface served as a venue for the ASCC to gain valuable insights and exchange views on key matters that will influence the ASCC beyond 2025 such as developments in policy and legislative mechanisms and processes, changes in the socio-economic landscape both within the region and globally, and regional and national priorities that could possibly affect the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.

The High-Level Interface was chaired by ASCC Council Chair and Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Suanesavanh Vignaket. She commended the active participation and engagement of all stakeholders in the development process of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, and emphasised their critical role in ensuring that ASCC priorities captures the needs and aspirations of the ASEAN Peoples.

She further highlighted that these initiatives are a way to help the ASCC in thinking deeper, developing a shared understanding among all participants of the issues, challenges and factors that ASCC need to consider, and what the ASCC want to create.

The ASCC Council Interface with Parliamentarians, which took place in the morning, highlighted key areas in policy making and legislative mechanism that could further support and enhance the ASCC agenda beyond 2025 and contribute to the sustainable implementation of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Ekkaphab Phanthavong expressed his appreciation to the ASCC Council for its active involvement in the development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan. He emphasised that investing in key human and sustainable development areas can help the ASCC community in navigating better the different socio-economic challenges that might affect ASEAN in the next years.

The ASCC Council High-Level Interface is part of the activities of the “Supporting the Development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan Project” funded the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning officiated the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd ASEAN Junior Fellowship Programme with the ASEAN Secretariat (AJFP). The four-week programme will be implemented from 1 until 30 August 2024 and enjoys generous support from Brunei Darussalam and Japan. Participants of the 3rd AJFP will experience attachments with ASEAN Secretariat divisions, engagements with the diplomatic community in Jakarta, interface with entities associated with ASEAN, as well as other activities in Jakarta.

The 3rd ASEAN Junior Fellowship Programme with the ASEAN Secretariat (AJFP) is a part of the Contribution to the ASEAN Fellowship Fund (AFF) project supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

The 1st ASEAN-G7 Next Leaders Forum was held in Tokyo from 26 June to 2 July 2024.

The Forum was attended by 55 young government officials from ASEAN and the G7 countries who will lead the next generation in the field of law and justice. The participants, as “Next Leaders,” formed a network that transcends national borders by sharing policy issues each country faces and discussing common challenges.

At the opening ceremony, Minister of Justice, KOIZUMI Ryuji and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Nararya Soeprapto, delivered opening remarks and welcomed the next leaders in the field of law and justice from ASEAN and the G7.

In this forum, participants discussed two main topics: a) Sharing information and knowledge regarding challenges and efforts undertaken in the G7 and ASEAN Ministries/Departments and b) How to ensure and develop human resources in the law and justice field taking into account gender perspectives.

After the discussions, participants made presentations based on each theme and shared diverse ideas that respected various perspectives through the dialog beyond boundaries between ASEAN and the G7. On the final day, as the conclusion of the forum, each group delivered a presentation summarising their discussions.

In order to broaden their understanding of the Japanese justice system, participants visited correctional facilities (Medical Correction Center in East Japan and Tokyo–Nishi Juvenile Assessment Center), the Supreme Court, the National Diet of Japan, and offender rehabilitation facilities (KOSHIN-KAI and SAISHU-KAI).

At the closing ceremony, participants received certificates of completion. This brought the conclusion of the 1st ASEAN-G7 Next Leaders Forum.

The 1st ASEAN-G7 Next Leaders Forum is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).