Participants at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – The 19th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfareand Development (SOMSWD) was held in Ha Long city in the northeastern provinceof Quang Ninh on November 15, with the participation 𒈔of rep♏resentatives from relevantagencies of ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Secretariat and Vietnam’s ministries and agencies.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA)chaired the meeting that was held in-person for the first time after four years held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking atthe event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Van Hoi shared Vietnam’soutstanding social welfare achievements, including growing coverage of socialinsurance and unemployment insurance, more beneficiaries of social sponsorpolicies, and increased benefits in basic social services such as healthcare,education, water and information access. Hoi called onparticipants at the meeting to review performance, develop plans for next year,and suggest practical initiatives for the benefit of each country and for theharmonised development of the ASEAN community which centres on people. As ASEAN'scommitments to social welfare and development are becoming more and moreextensive, in the face of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN membercountries give many priorities to social security, social affairs, andpost-pandemic recovery. Vietnam chosethe theme "Responsive Social Protection in the Changing World" forthe meeting to contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision2025, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Master Plan 2025, and "No one isleft behind”.Participantsat the meeting recommended initiatives and proposals on strengthening the roleof SOMSWD to make it an important specialised agency of ASEAN with practicalcooperation activities in social protection.
They also agreed on the need topromote close partnerships between A꧂SEAN and three countries of China, Japan,and tꦰhe Republic of Korea, and other international and regional partners tooptimise their technical and financial support for social welfare in the comingtime./.
