Vietnam proactively builds new project for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

(Chinhphu.vn) - On August 21, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Home Affairs chaired the National Conference to evaluate the final implementation of the Project on building and deploying the Plan to implement the goals of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by 2025 (referred to as Project 161).

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang speaks at the Conference - Photo: VGP/Thu Giang

This is an important milestone, summarizing the 10-year journey of Vietnam implementing the Project to realize its commitment to regional integration on the Cultural - Social pillar.

The conference was attended by representatives of ministries and sectors of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community in Vietnam, units under the Ministry of Home Affairs, leaders of several localities and representatives of departments, agencies and sectors of 17 provinces and cities in the Northern and Central regions. Previously, on August 15, the conference of the Central and Southern regions took place in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the Conference, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang emphasized that Project 161 was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 161/QD-TTg dated January 25, 2016, and has now entered the final months of the implementation phase.

Over the past 10 years, the contents of the Project have been effectively integrated into plans, policies, and action programs of ministries, sectors, localities, and socio-political organizations. Many goals of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community have been concretized into tasks and solutions with clear responsibilities.

Not only issuing their own action plans, ministries, sectors and localities have also proactively integrated ASEAN goals into foreign affairs, propaganda, administrative reform and improving the quality of public services. Thanks to that, all 5 groups of contents of the Project - from building a cohesive, integrated, sustainable, self-reliant to dynamic community - have been implemented synchronously.

According to Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang, 2025 is a special milestone when the country carries out a streamlining revolution, arranges administrative units at all levels, and operates a 2-level local government model.

From central to local levels, the administrative apparatus has been streamlined, online public services are increasingly improved and more transparent, helping to improve service quality. This is a major step forward that directly contributes to the first goal of Project 161 - building a cohesive community, bringing practical benefits to the people.

Although the implementation of the Project faced a number of difficulties and challenges such as resource issues, coordination mechanisms, and connectivity issues, Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang acknowledged that the training and development of cadres, civil servants, and public employees has always been enhanced over the years.

In particular, in 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted to the Prime Minister for promulgation the Project on implementing the "ASEAN Declaration on the role of the civil service as a catalyst in achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025", which is the basis for ministries, branches and localities to develop implementation plans, thereby contributing to enhancing the responsibility of performing public duties of cadres, civil servants and public employees; promoting the effectiveness of training and fostering; creating changes in the process of building and implementing administrative reform programs and providing public services.

Based on the experience of the previous period, the Ministry of Home Affairs has established a Steering Committee and a Working Group to develop a new Project to implement the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan after 2025. This Project will continue and develop the achievements of Project 161, expected to be deployed nationwide after being approved by the Prime Minister.

Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang called on ministries, sectors and localities to share information, frankly point out difficulties, and propose solutions and mobilize resources for the coming period. He emphasized that Vietnam is not only an active and responsible member but is also striving to play a leading role in many areas of cooperation. Administrative reforms, domestic cultural and social programs, and an increasingly high international position will create momentum for Vietnam to continue to make strong contributions to the ASEAN integration process.

Dr. Ha Thi Minh Duc, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Home Affairs, shares about ASEAN cooperation in the Socio-Cultural Community 2025 - Photo: VGP/Thu Giang

At the Conference, delegates listened to updated information from the ASEAN Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs on the situation of ASEAN cooperation on the pillars of Politics - Security and Culture - Society.

The conference also acknowledged reports from a number of ministries and sectors on key results in implementing national programs, projects, and related activities, especially activities to improve service quality for people in specialized fields.

Ministries, sectors and localities also discussed lessons learned and pointed out difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process. The conference agreed to continue to promote coordination mechanisms and enhance information exchange to complete the Report to be submitted to the Prime Minister by the end of 2025.

In the context of preparing to complete the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 at the regional level and Project 161 at the national level, the Conference agreed to propose that the Ministry of Home Affairs continue to preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to develop a Project to implement the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan after 2025 in Vietnam.

Thu Giang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-chu-dong-xay-dung-de-an-moi-cho-cong-dong-van-hoa-xa-hoi-asean-102250821124655391.htm