HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam has made significant contributions topromoting collaboration in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, one of the threepillars in the ASEAN Community.

This was concluded at the preliminary conference on Project 161 which looks toimplement and achieve the goals laid out by the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Communityuntil 2025 held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 10.

The event, held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs(MoLISA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications(MIC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to highlight ASEAN’s activitiesand Vietnam’s efforts after joining the bloc while sharing experience in implementingthe project to take advantage of regional priority.

According to Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the MoLISA’s Department ofInternational Cooperation, the establishment of ASEAN Community, with threepillars of Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-CulturalCommunity, is a hallmark to elevate cooperation within the ASEAN to a newheight. Also, the ASEAN Community requires tireless efforts from member statesto ensure a peaceful environment for a combined population of 630 millionpeople.

He noticed that after joining in the bloc, Vietnam has recommended a line-up ofinitiatives, which are all practical to bolster cooperation and connectionwithin the ASEAN. As a responsible member, the country has accompanied theASEAN to settle regional complex issues and global challenges which threaten regionaland global peace, security and sustainability.

The country has fully and effectively carried out commitments and agreements tobuild an ASEAN Community of strength, unity and connectivity, he stressed.

According to MoLISA, the national master plan on ASEAN Socio-Cultural Communityhas brought benefits to local people as it has been made in companion withimprovement in institutional capacity, and reform in administrative procedures.

Therefore, relevant authorities need to pay heed to communication work to raisepublic awareness of the ASEAN and the benefits it has brought, and expandpolicies on social security, healthcare and education.

Phan Thao Nguyen, Director of the MIC’s Department of InternationalCooperation, said that the conference gave an insight into ASEAN communicationplan in regional and national levels, as well as highlight the bloc’schallenges and opportunities.

Participants at the event evaluated the implementation of the master plan andProject 161 in Vietnam, updated ASEAN’s media plan and communication works for2020 when Vietnam holds the ASEAN Chairmanship.-VNA