ASEAN officials gather at Socio-Cultural Community Council meeting
The 24th meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council, the most important event of the ASCC this year, was held online on November 6 with the participation of 10 member countries’ officials, the ASEAN Secretary-General, and the bloc’s Secretariat.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung speaks at the 24th meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council in Hanoi on November 6 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 24th meeting of the ASEANSocio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council, the most important event of the ASCCthis year, was held online on November 6 with the participation of 10 membercountries’ officials, the ASEAN Secretary-General, and the bloc’s Secretariat.
Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, who chairs the ASCC Council in 2020, noted thatCOVID-19 is an unprecedented pandemic that has seriously affected people’shealth and healthcare systems and caused substantial impacts on socio-economicaspects of all countries around the world, including in ASEAN.
Challenges posed by this outbreak requirecountries’ governments respond to emergencies to protect people’s lives,stabilise economies, and ensure social security, according to him.
Dung said regarding ASCC activities during itsASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, Vietnam has proposed initiatives and prioritiesrelevant to the development of human resources, enhancement of social work,information and communications, settlement of fake news, COVID-19 response, andpost-pandemic recovery.
At the session, participants carried outmid-term review of the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 so as toidentify achievements, challenges, lessons, and solutions to improve theeffectiveness of regional cooperation in related fields.
They shared viewpoints on areas needing moreattention and promotion in the ASCC as well as anti-COVID-19 efforts, includingthe ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and the post-COVID-19recovery plan of the ASEAN Community. They pledged to boost support for theACRF implementation and work out a united strategy for sustainable recoveryfrom the pandemic.
Concluding the meeting, the ministers issued ajoint statement and reached consensus on 12 documents and declarations,including two to be submitted to the 37th ASEAN Summit for approval next week,namely the Hanoi declaration on promoting social work towards a cohesive andresponsive ASEAN Community, and the Narrative of ASEAN Identity.
Meetings of the ASCC Council are biannual eventsof ministers in charge of relevant areas in the ASCC. They take place rightbefore ASEAN summits to review the implementation of activities and prepare theASCC’s documents on related cooperation areas for submission to ASEAN summitsfor approval./.
The ASEAN People’s Forum (APF) 2020 kicked off on November 5, with the theme “Southeast Asian People’s Solidarity for an Inclusive, Cohesive and Responsive Community”.
As Chair of ASEAN 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will preside over the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, which will be held via video conference from November 12-15, Vice Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Duong Hoai Nam told the ministry’s regular press conference on November 5.
Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam Nguyen Hoa Binh was elected as President of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ) for the 2020-2021 tenure during the eight meeting of the council on November 5.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on November 5 expressed his belief that the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings would be a success thanks to the close coordination of ministries and agencies.
International co-operation at sea, manifested by the co-ordination of actions among countries at bilateral, regional and global levels, is indispensable to protect this essential living source and helps harmonise maritime activities and address trans-boundary challenges, a senior official said on November 5.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung speaks at the 24th meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council in Hanoi on November 6 (Photo: VNA) 
