ASEAN Strengthens Cultural and Social Cooperation Toward Inclusive and Sustainable Development

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The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy, accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia.

Deputy Minister Cao Huy attended the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) High-Level Forum in Selangor, Malaysia, on October 7, 2025.

This was the second ASCC Council meeting in 2025, serving as an important platform to review and evaluate cooperation activities, as well as to consider and adopt key documents for submission to the ASEAN Summit.

In his opening remarks, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Chair of the ASCC Council, emphasized that the efforts of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community are playing an essential role in “Preparing ASEAN for the Future”, contributing to regional progress, growth, and integration in a spirit of unity, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

The meeting demonstrated ASEAN’s commitment to fostering balanced and harmonious human and social development. Delegates highly appreciated Malaysia’s leadership in advancing ASCC’s 2025 priorities, including: preserving culture and heritage; promoting technological innovation and green employment; taking action on climate change; enhancing cooperation in health and sports; and empowering ASEAN youth.

The meeting also acknowledged the efforts of working groups, sectoral bodies, and the ASEAN Secretariat in developing and implementing the ASCC Strategic Plan, which had been adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit.

Building on this foundation, ASEAN member states are now coordinating the development of the ASCC Results Framework to operationalize strategic objectives aimed at improving the quality of life, welfare, and well-being of people across the region.

A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Preliminary Report on the Mid-Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint 2025, which showed that 100% of the strategic measures have been implemented. This achievement reflects ASEAN’s significant progress in promoting regional, cross-sectoral, and cross-pillar cooperation, as well as stronger national policy alignment, contributing to better living standards and strengthened partnerships toward sustainable development.

An overview of the 34th Meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council held in Selangor, Malaysia. (Photo: Moha)

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Cao Huy, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, affirmed that the documents under consideration within the ASCC framework this year cover numerous critical areas of social life, from culture, education, health, and climate change to the rights of persons with disabilities. This, he noted, demonstrates ASEAN’s commitment to addressing emerging challenges while placing people at the center of development.

Deputy Minister Cao Huy stressed that, alongside economic cooperation, greater investment should be made in social welfare, human development, and cybersecurity.

He also shared that Vietnam is actively coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to review the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 and to develop a national plan for the post-2025 period, ensuring continuity and sustainability in regional commitments.

Vietnam will continue to strengthen capacity building for civil servants and enhance public communication about the ASEAN Community, helping citizens better understand the role, significance, and benefits of regional integration.

At the meeting, ministers and heads of delegation adopted the Joint Statement, agreed in principle on the List of Documents to be Submitted to the 47th ASEAN Summit, and endorsed the Report of the 34th ASCC Council Meeting, reaffirming the shared determination to promote a more cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN Community.

Earlier, on October 7, the ASEAN Conference on the Future-Ready Civil Service was held in Selangor, Malaysia, hosted by the Malaysian Public Service Department. Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended and delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the importance of reshaping governance in ASEAN and its member states amid the rapidly advancing digital era.

With three plenary sessions, the conference focused on the following themes: Cooperation, policy innovation, and development direction for the future civil service; Human resource development for a civil service capable of adapting to the digital age; Innovation and digital transformation in public services - the role of technology in shaping a modern civil service.

At Plenary Session 3, Luu Quang Tuan, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation under Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs, delivered a presentation titled “Digital Transformation in Governance and Administration at the Ministry of Home Affairs.” He shared Vietnam’s practical experience in applying digital technology to enhance administrative efficiency, improve work productivity, and modernize the civil service system.

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