Desaru: The Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) Retreat in Desaru will concentrate on endorsing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Strategic People, which is planned to be adopted during the 46th ASEAN Summit in May. Chaired by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) secretary-general Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman, the retreat is part of Malaysia’s duties as the ASEAN chair this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, all 10 ASEAN member countries will participate in the retreat, with Vietnam attending virtually. The retreat will also evaluate the End Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 and address Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship priorities, deliverables, and activities for the ASCC.

Alongside the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) pillars, the ASCC is essential in shaping the trajectory for the next two decades with a comprehensive direction as outlined in the ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045.

Malaysia assumed the role of ASEAN Chair for 2025 on January 1, marking the fifth time it has held this position since ASEAN’s formation in 1967. More than 300 meetings and significant programmes are set to occur nationwide throughout the year. Malaysia previously held the ASEAN Chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.