ASCC Acts To Back Incorporation Of AIGE Into Council

MELAKA (Malaysia), March 27 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Socio-cultural Community Council (ASCC) is taking steps to support the incorporation of the ASEAN Institute of Green economy (AIGE) into its fold. In a statement Friday, ASCC said it has called on the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Senior Officials Committee for ASCC to undertake further consultations with relevant sectoral bodies on the details. "ASCC welcomes the draft terms of reference for AIGE following its launch last year," it said. The ASCC members, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philipines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, held the 13th ASCC Council meeting under the chairmanship of Malaysia, here Thursday. Among those who attended the meeting were Malaysia's Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz; Brunei's Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Awang Hazair Abdullah; Thailand's Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Prompat; and, Myanmar's Ministry of Culture Union Minister Aye Myint Kyu. The AIGE was launched at the 25th ASEAN Summit in November last year at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar to promote economic growth based on green initiative. The institute is located at the Green Economy Green Growth Centre of Excellence in Yangon, Myanmar. Meanwhile, ASCC said it appreciated the research by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia leading to an interim report on framing the ASCC post-2015. "The interim report serves as a reference to the development of the draft for ASCC Attendant Document which is an important document in the council's ASCC Community 2025 plan to strengthen the community in ASEAN," it said. ASCC plans to launch ASCC Community 2025 plan after the completion of Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) this year. -- BERNAMA