(AseanAll) — The Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) convened on 4 March 2025 in Johor, Malaysia for a special meeting and retreat.
The meeting was the first SOCA meeting under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 guided by the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. The meeting was attended by all ASEAN Member States as well as by Timor-Leste as an Observer.
The Meeting was chaired by YBhg. Dato’ Roslan Tan Sri Abdul Rahman, Secretary-General, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, who highlighted in his welcome remarks that the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillar assumes a pivotal role in charting the ASCC course for the next 20 years with a bold, inclusive, and forward-looking direction encompassed in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. He congratulated the Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG) under the SOCA, for successfully finalising the ASCC Strategic Plan within 10 meetings and holding a series of stakeholder consultations. He highlighted that the ASCC Strategic Plan consists of 112 Strategic Measures, covering both socio-cultural and cross-pillar focused areas.
The meeting expressed strong support for Malaysia’s key priorities and deliverables in advancing ASEAN’s collective vision of a resilient, people-centred, and forward-looking ASEAN Community while advancing economic growth and regional connectivity, and enhancing regional resilience. Malaysia announced its five key priorities for the ASCC Pillar which include (i) culture and heritage for value creation; (ii) artificial intelligence, digitalisation and green jobs towards future proofing skills and talents for ASEAN; (iii) healthy ASEAN initiatives towards a prosperous ASEAN; (iv) youth and sports potential for all to foster growth, unity and excellence; and (v) climate action for stewardship, partnership and ownership.
The Meeting discussed important ASEAN documents from the ASCC that will be submitted for adoption and notation by the ASEAN Leaders at the 46th and 47th ASEAN Summits this year. These include the ASEAN Declaration of Commitment on ASEAN Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR); Melaka Declaration on Cultural Heritage Value Creation; ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to UNFCCC COP30; and ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Higher Education 2025.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASCC San Lwin expressed his appreciation for the in-depth discussions at the meeting on the ASCC priorities in 2025, as well as the endorsement of the ASCC Strategic Plan and implementation of End-Term Review of ASCC Blueprint 2025. He expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Malaysia, ASCC will deliver fruitful outcomes under the five indicative priority areas for its ASCC Chairmanship in 2025.
The meeting welcomed the SOCA endorsement of the ASCC Strategic Plan and commended the excellent work by the AHWG.
