Director of the MoLISA's International Cooperation Department Nguyen Manh Cuong (R) at the conference (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - The implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) Blueprint was reviewed at a virtual regional workshop on October 6 hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).
This was part of ASEAN activities organised by theMoLISA in its role as the Chair of SOCA in 2020.
Director of the MoLISA's InternationalCooperation Department Nguyen Manh Cuong, who is also head of SOCAVietnam, said the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-CulturalCommunity Blueprint 2025 at the regional level is entering the final stage of completion,in order for the timely submission of a regional report to the 37th ASEANSummit, which is scheduled to be held in Vietnam in November.
While praising ASEAN member nations’ efforts to carry out national assessmentsand the coordination and support of the ASEAN Secretariat and the Regional AdvisoryGroup, Cuong said the draft regional report was detailed and comprehensive, and highlightedthe achievements and challenges after five years of implementing the Blueprint.
Participants focused on discussing and commenting on amendments and adjustmentsto each chapter of the draft regional report, including research methods, overallimplementation progress, implementation of objectives, and implementation progressin each ASEAN member country.
Theyagreed on subsequent steps relating to procedures for the submission of the regionalreport, in which the ASEAN Secretariat and the Regional Advisory Group will urgentlycoordinate with ASEAN countries in finalising the report for review and approvalby ministers in charge of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council before submissionto the 37th ASEAN Summit.
Within the framework of the workshop, a national-levelmeeting was arranged by Vietnam to discuss and complete a report reviewing the implementationof Decision No 161/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on approving a project to developand implement a plan to reach the goals laid outby SOCA to 2025 (Project 161) during the last five years.
Vietnam has posted many achievements in different fields, especially poverty reductionand environmental protection, contributing to the common achievements of the regionand enhancing ASEAN’s image in Vietnam./.
VNA
