This aims to support the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint by 2025 at both national and regional levels, participants said at the Senior Officials' online meeting for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) held on June 22 in Hà Nội.

The review is expected to be submitted to the 37th ASEAN Summit this November.

The online meeting, which was held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, was attended by heads of ASEAN member countries’ SOCA, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General in charge of ASEAN SOCA, delegations of ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Speaking at the online meeting, a representative of Viet Nam said 2020 was an important year for ASEAN when all the specialised agencies evaluated the implementation results of the previous period and prepared a working plan for the next period, towards the ASEAN Vision by 2025.

The representative added 2020 was also an important year in cultural and social work when all ASEAN member countries were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has not only had negative impacts on people's health but their livelihoods, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Viet Nam, as chair of ASEAN 2020, has been working closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and member countries to implement initiatives and activities to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic that is showing complicated developments with the spirit and the theme of 'ASEAN cohesion and proactive adaptation'.

This year, Viet Nam will also prioritise holding a preliminary review of the five-year implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by 2025 (Project 161), which was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The results of the preliminary review will help to finalise the Mid-term Review on the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint by 2025 in Việt Nam and intensify discussions on human resource development.

The online meeting also noted the need to accelerate the discussion with Timor-Leste on related contents in order to learn about the readiness and ability to meet ASEAN's expectations from the country.

The Vietnamese delegation discussed more clearly on its priorities in the ASEAN Chair 2020 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community to create support and consensus for member countries during the important year of the community.

Relating to the pandemic, the ASEAN Secretariat also summarised the activities being implemented or planned at the ministerial or official level of the ASEAN Social-Cultural Community, in accordance with the decisions and leadership statement on co-ordinating to regionally respond in the fight against the pandemic.

The conference agreed to submit two documents to the 23rd ASEAN Community and Cultural Council, namely the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resource Development in a changing world and Terms of Reference of the ASEAN TVET Council./