VGP - Việt Nam has played an active coordinating role in the development of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) towards a stable and strong ASEAN community.
The 4th meeting of Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC Council is chaired by Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyễn Thanh Hòa, Đà Nẵng, August 14, 2010 - Photo: VGP On August 14 in Đà Nẵng, the 4th meeting of Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC Council (SOCA) opened under the chairmanship of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyễn Thanh Hòa and with the participation of senior officials of the 10 ASEAN countries.
The meeting will be followed by the 4th meeting of ASCC slated for August 16.
Mr. Hòa said the SOCA meeting is of great importance in the context that ASEAN is looking forwards to the ASEAN Community in 2015. To this end, the bloc is focusing efforts and resources on developing manpower, strengthening social welfare for people, especially women and children, fostering cooperation with partners to address international and regional challenges, and raising public awareness about ASEAN cultural identities.
Senior officials at their 4th meeting of the Committee for the ASCC Council, Đà Nẵng, August 14, 2010 - Photo: VGP
The SOCA meeting will review the implementation of ASCC overall plans and put forth proposals and measures to realize the plans. SOCA officials will consider the last version of a draft declaration of ASEAN leaders on human resources and skills for economic recovery and growth, and their declaration on social welfares for women and children.
The declarations will be submitted to the 4th ASCC meeting and then to the 17th ASEAN Summit for approval.
Ms. Lê Kim Dung, Vice Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said that acting as the Chair of ASCC in 2010, Việt Nam has made active contribution to ASCC via activities at national and regional levels, including initiatives relating to the organization of ASEAN ministerial meetings on labor and social welfare. The ASEAN members have built up many programs and solutions to solve problems relating to healthcare, education and environment.
By Ngọc Vân
