Thailand will host the First Meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council during 22-24 August 2009 at Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok. This is the first meeting of the socio-cultural community pillar following the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter since 15 December 2008. The meeting will be important in setting the strategic direction in moving forward the establishment of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. During 22-23 August, the ASCC Council Preparatory Meeting at Director-General/Senior Official level will take place to be followed by the Ministerial Meeting on 24 August. Delegations attending the Meeting are representatives from social development and cultural ministries of ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat. Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and Thai National Representative to the ASCC Council, will chair the Ministerial Meeting.
The ASCC Council Preparatory Meeting will discuss in details on setting priority areas and measures of the ASCC Blueprint, the ASCC Council’s Rules of Procedures as well as the Communication Plan.
The Ministerial Meeting will adopt and take note of developments in the sectoral bodies under the ASCC Council as well as the status of the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint. More importantly, the Council is expected to discuss policies and set the future direction for the ASCC including the deliverables to be recommended by the Council for the 15th ASEAN Summit scheduled to be held during 23-25 October 2009.
Thailand, as Chair of ASEAN, will also brief the Meeting on the preparations for the Summit’s sideline activities namely the Informal Dialogues between the ASEAN Leaders and Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Youths and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
After the Meeting, Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs will brief the outcome of the Meeting to members of the press at Montathip II Room, Four Seasons Hotel at 17.30 hrs.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th