With the spirit of togetherness, ASEAN continues to rise to challenges of achieving sustainability and resilience among the people while preparing the region for the future.
This supports the objectives behind Brunei Darussalam’s ASEAN Chairmanship, themed ‘We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper’, emphasising the region’s relevancy to its people where no one is left behind.
The importance of ASEAN’s solidarity in addressing the challenges brought by COVID-19 in the region was highlighted by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin in his opening remark as the Chair of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council 2021 during the 26th ASCC Council Meeting held via video conference recently.
The minister shared the progress and efforts made by ASCC throughout the year.
He highlighted that the whole-of-ASEAN approach in realising regional commitment to strengthen coordinated responses can be seen through ASCC’s multi-dimensional approach in addressing gaps and challenges thus ensuring the well-being and livelihood of the people.
ASCC council ministers, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, delegations and representatives were also present at the meeting.
The minister and ASCC council ministers commended the holistic actions by the ASCC sectoral bodies to address the gaps and challenges affecting the region particularly in areas such as public health, social protection, fake news and misinformation, environmental degradation and the climate crisis.
The ministers stated that the recommendations in the Mid-Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 had helped advance ASEAN community building efforts through incorporating and aligning the blueprint’s implementation into the post-2020 ASCC Sectoral Work Plans and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and its Implementation Plan (ACRF).
Recognising the importance of preparing for the future, the meeting reaffirmed support and commitment on the elevation of the role of youth in realising sustainable development, ensuring that they are prepared and future-ready in responding to the complex global challenges, through initiatives such as the ASEAN Youth Academy Programme, ASEAN Youth on Climate Change and ASEAN Walk 2022.
Date of Release: 1 October 2021
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October 10, 2021
