Jakarta: The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) will spearhead the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045, ensuring that the region's transformation is rooted in people-centred development, according to ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Kao emphasized that the ASCC serves as ASEAN's 'people's pillar,' turning collective commitments into tangible actions that empower communities, enhance resilience, and foster inclusive growth throughout the region. "As ASEAN's people's pillar, the ASCC transforms this commitment into action. We champion a future where people are not merely beneficiaries, but active participants in shaping regional development, ensuring that the fruits of our collective efforts reach every corner of our diverse communities and villages," he stated at the ASCC Strategic Plan regional forum.
The forum, attended by nearly 200 participants, featured Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Japan's Ambassador to ASEAN Kiya Masahiko. The participants included senior officials from ASEAN member states and representatives from various federal and state ministries, government agencies, local authorities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Dr. Kao highlighted that the ASCC Strategic Plan was developed through extensive consultations with governments, civil society, development partners, and over 4,000 individuals from across the region. This plan reflects the priorities and aspirations of ASEAN people, including those from rural and vulnerable communities. "The challenges we face, from pandemic-exposed supply chain vulnerabilities to accelerating climate impacts on our communities, demand coordinated responses that no single actor can provide alone. This collaborative approach is not new to ASEAN. Building on decades of stakeholder engagement and lessons from implementing the ASCC Blueprint 2025, the new plan represents an evolution in our consultative methodology," he said.
He also outlined several key areas of focus under the ASCC Strategic Plan, including resilience, innovation, inclusive and sustainable development, a greener ASEAN, and meaningful stakeholder participation. Dr. Kao underscored the importance of partnerships in advancing ASCC's agenda and emphasized that the journey ahead will require political will, resources, and the active involvement of all stakeholders to ensure ASCC's commitments are effectively translated into results for ASEAN people.