ID :
212160
Tue, 10/11/2011 - 09:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/212160
The shortlink copeid
COOPERATION IN CULTURE FOR STRENGTH AND HARMONY AMONG ASEAN COMMUNITY
SEMARANG (Indonesia), Oct 11 (Bernama) -- The meeting of the Asean
Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) concluded Monday with the endorsement of a number of documents which will be presented for agreement by the heads of governments at the 19th Asean Summit in Bali next month.
In addition, it also renewed efforts to turn culture into an important element in forging cooperation in harmonising cultural ties towards the formation of the Asean Community in 2015.
Such efforts would be taken jointly by the member nations of the regional body through various activities and programmes which were not given much attention previously as the focus then was more on other non-cultural issues.
Asean should lead in the efforts to look into the strength of its heritage and culture and, in this context, Malaysia was in the forefront by offering to host the first Asean Cultural Festival in Kuala Lumpur next year.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim concluded that the sixth ASCC meeting in the Central Java capital had drawn up programmes which should enhance cooperation and ties among the One Asean Community.
"Such efforts will take time, thus Malaysia had requested that the meeting suggested to the respective heads of states to achieve a balance between cultural and socio-cultural programmes.
"We emphasised that cultural programmes and projects in Asean member countries should be carried out according to a healthy ratio which should not be superceded by issues such as employment, HIV and others," he told Bernama, here.
Rais said Asean member countries must fully determine the cultural
programmes and projects that they would implement.
"For example, we give priority in terms of the language aspects between Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as the Asean language which is also included in the ASCC direction.
"We must also look into aspects such as music, dances and heritage that exist in the Asean nations," he said.
At the meeting on Monday, Rais had drawn the attention of the meeting on the need for the ASCC to focus more on cultural programmes and projects because the shared heritage and the similarities in culture among the Asean member countries had united the community to form a union and become the determining factor in the region.
"The success and failure of ASCC depends on the meeting of minds and the hearts of Asean when we forge together our links. Culture is one area which has a strong foundation for Asean people to build the Asean Identity.
"We must not lose sight of the fact that as an Asean organisation, we come from one region, which comes a long way in history and culture, in fact our history and culture has so much in common, that sometimes we are confused as to where certain aspects of our culture originate from, so much so it may even result in friendly tiffs among us," the minister said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
Rais has highlighted that cooperation can be emphasised on common grounds or interests of all Asean member states instead of always looking for their distinctive differences in forging greater relationship under the ASCC pillar.
The ASCC pillar is the biggest Asean Community, encompassing 17 sectoral bodies.
Among the documents endorsed by the meeting on Monday for adoption by the 19th Asean Summit in Bali next month is the "Declaration On Asean Unity In Cultural Diversity: Towards Strengthening Asean Community".
The declaration highlighted important areas like promoting Asean mindset "Think Asean" as a framework to design regional policy; protection, promotion of Asean cultural diversity, enhancing creativity and cultural industry; and culture as a means towards Asean's caring and sharing society.
Rais recorded his appreciation to Indonesia and the Philippines in
taking the lead on the successful reformulating of the document, which he described as a new commitment towards deepening understanding and tolerance among the people of Asean through Asean's cultural diversity.
"In Malaysia, the declaration is undergoing internal legal process for approval by the Malaysian Cabinet and God willing, we will put our signatures to this milestone at the coming 19th Summit at Bali in November.
"Guided by this declaration, we can now embark on more concrete and
purposeful steps to enhance cultural cooperation among us," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) concluded Monday with the endorsement of a number of documents which will be presented for agreement by the heads of governments at the 19th Asean Summit in Bali next month.
In addition, it also renewed efforts to turn culture into an important element in forging cooperation in harmonising cultural ties towards the formation of the Asean Community in 2015.
Such efforts would be taken jointly by the member nations of the regional body through various activities and programmes which were not given much attention previously as the focus then was more on other non-cultural issues.
Asean should lead in the efforts to look into the strength of its heritage and culture and, in this context, Malaysia was in the forefront by offering to host the first Asean Cultural Festival in Kuala Lumpur next year.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim concluded that the sixth ASCC meeting in the Central Java capital had drawn up programmes which should enhance cooperation and ties among the One Asean Community.
"Such efforts will take time, thus Malaysia had requested that the meeting suggested to the respective heads of states to achieve a balance between cultural and socio-cultural programmes.
"We emphasised that cultural programmes and projects in Asean member countries should be carried out according to a healthy ratio which should not be superceded by issues such as employment, HIV and others," he told Bernama, here.
Rais said Asean member countries must fully determine the cultural
programmes and projects that they would implement.
"For example, we give priority in terms of the language aspects between Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as the Asean language which is also included in the ASCC direction.
"We must also look into aspects such as music, dances and heritage that exist in the Asean nations," he said.
At the meeting on Monday, Rais had drawn the attention of the meeting on the need for the ASCC to focus more on cultural programmes and projects because the shared heritage and the similarities in culture among the Asean member countries had united the community to form a union and become the determining factor in the region.
"The success and failure of ASCC depends on the meeting of minds and the hearts of Asean when we forge together our links. Culture is one area which has a strong foundation for Asean people to build the Asean Identity.
"We must not lose sight of the fact that as an Asean organisation, we come from one region, which comes a long way in history and culture, in fact our history and culture has so much in common, that sometimes we are confused as to where certain aspects of our culture originate from, so much so it may even result in friendly tiffs among us," the minister said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
Rais has highlighted that cooperation can be emphasised on common grounds or interests of all Asean member states instead of always looking for their distinctive differences in forging greater relationship under the ASCC pillar.
The ASCC pillar is the biggest Asean Community, encompassing 17 sectoral bodies.
Among the documents endorsed by the meeting on Monday for adoption by the 19th Asean Summit in Bali next month is the "Declaration On Asean Unity In Cultural Diversity: Towards Strengthening Asean Community".
The declaration highlighted important areas like promoting Asean mindset "Think Asean" as a framework to design regional policy; protection, promotion of Asean cultural diversity, enhancing creativity and cultural industry; and culture as a means towards Asean's caring and sharing society.
Rais recorded his appreciation to Indonesia and the Philippines in
taking the lead on the successful reformulating of the document, which he described as a new commitment towards deepening understanding and tolerance among the people of Asean through Asean's cultural diversity.
"In Malaysia, the declaration is undergoing internal legal process for approval by the Malaysian Cabinet and God willing, we will put our signatures to this milestone at the coming 19th Summit at Bali in November.
"Guided by this declaration, we can now embark on more concrete and
purposeful steps to enhance cultural cooperation among us," he said.
-- BERNAMA
