During the two-day meeting, ASEAN officials reviewed the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint and compared notes on the ASCC’s priorities in 2010.

They also proposed a number of solutions for some key issues this year with a focus on developing human resources, ensuring social welfare for women and children, promoting cooperation to cope with global challenges and raising awareness of an ASEAN cultural identity.

Le Kim Dung, Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs praised ASEAN officials’ efforts to secure a draft declaration of ASEAN Leaders on human resource development and skills for economic recovery and growth as well as a draft declaration on social welfare for women and children. The two drafts will be submitted for approval to the ASCC and the upcoming ASEAN Leaders Summit in Hanoi this October.

Mrs Dung said Vietnam needs to boost human resource development by developing a skilled workforce, promoting technical cooperation with other countries and issuing declarations on human resources and skills for economic recovery and growth.

Vietnam is currently creating a draft declaration on developing social welfare for women and children in ASEAN nations, she added.