Joint Statement of The Twenty-Ninth ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council

1. The 29th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting was held on 8 May 2023 in Bali, Indonesia, under the ASEAN Chairmanship of Indonesia.

2. The Meeting extended full support to Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship with its theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, focusing on three priorities which are (i) ASEAN Matters; (ii) Epicentrum of Growth; and (iii) Implementation of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Meeting looked forward to the realisation of the priorities, particularly those under purview of the ASEAN SocioCultural Community Pillar, including strengthening regional health architecture; empowering villages to enable them to fast-track rural development in the region; promoting environmental cooperation to conserve biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change; better protecting ASEAN migrant workers and enhancing capacity of workers for the Future of Work; as well as strengthening disability-inclusive development.