Emerging Socio-Cultural Trends For Discussion At ASCC Council Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- The emerging socio-cultural trends, and the way to move forward prior to the realisation of the ASEAN Community by the end of 2015, are among issues for discussion at the 13th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting in Melaka. The meeting, which will be officiated by Melaka Governer Mohd Khalil Yaakob will be chaired by Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. According to a ministry statement here Wednesday, the ASCC pillar coordinates 19 sectoral bodies which oversee key areas of human development, social welfare and protection, social justice and rights, environment sustainability, building an ASEAN identity and narrowing the development gap. It said the three significant meetings of ASCC kicked off on Monday, with the 2nd High-Level Task Force (HLTF-ASCC) Working Group (WG) Meeting, and followed by the 18th Senior Officials Meeting For ASCC (SOCA) and 13th ASCC Council. The meetings will end on Friday. The statement said the 18th SOCA meeting was chaired by ministry secretary-general Dr Ong Hong Peng, who is also Malaysia's SOCA leader. SOCA is a regular preparatory working committee of Senior Officials to deliberate on proposed priority areas before determining ASCC’s deliverables for every year. According to the statement, the HLTF-ASCC WG is a special committee to oversee the follow-ups of the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision, particularly on matters regarding ASCC. "Among the key issues discussed during the meetings included the proposed outcome document or deliverables of the ASCC for the year 2015, and the progress report of the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint’s action lines. "Among the proposed deliverables are the ASEAN Festival for Cultural Expressions, empowering the olderly, social welfare and development, climate change, priorities on civil service matters and sports," it said. As Malaysia ASCC’s focal point, the tourism and culture ministry, in conjunction with Malaysia's chairmanship for ASEAN 2015, aims to contribute in creating an ASEAN Community that is people-oriented and socially responsible, with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the people and Member States of ASEAN. "It seeks to forge a common identity and build a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood and welfare of the peoples are enhanced," notes the statement. -- BERNAMA