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​Source : Press Release and Photos MCYS

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA, 7 - 8 OCTOBER 2025 – Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, as the ASCC Council Minister for Brunei Darussalam, attended the 34th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting (34th ASCC Council Meeting) held on 8 October 2025 in Sunway Convention Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.  The meeting was chaired by Yang Berhormat Dato' Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia and ASCC Chair 2025, under the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability".​

During the meeting, the ASCC Ministers had in-depth discussions on ASEAN's priorities in 2025 to further advance the ASEAN community and enhance mutual cooperation.   With the adoption of the ASCC Strategic Plan, the Ministers are encouraged with the steady progress made, to set clear results-based indicators, targets and baseline of the Strategic Plan, with the support of the ASCC Sectoral Bodies. This will enable more effective alignment of sectoral bodies' work plans and strengthen the use of data for evidence-based decision-making, and building on lessons learned to inform future strategies and initiatives.  Against this backdrop, Yang Berhormat Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports emphasized that beyond frameworks, indicators, and matrices, what really matters to the people, are the differences made to their lives, through markers of success such as stronger social protection, and greater opportunities for women and youth.

The ASCC Ministers also reaffirmed the commitment to further promote cross-pillar and cross-sectoral initiatives and enhance stakeholders' engagement, and thus welcomed the progress made on the development of the Strategy Playbook on Promoting an Adaptive ASEAN Community of Greater Understanding, Tolerance and a Sense of Regional Agendas among the Peoples of ASEAN, an initiative championed by Brunei Darussalam. 

In support of Malaysia's ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship, the ASCC Ministers agreed to submit the ASCC Outcome Documents to the ASEAN Heads of State/Government at the 47th ASEAN Summit, including the Melaka Declaration on Cultural Heritage Value Creation, ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Higher Education: Towards an Inclusive, Sustainable and Prosperous ASEAN, Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms for ASEAN, Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration to Reaffirm the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information's Commitment to Strategic Progress in Media and Information, and ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC-COP30).

Yang Berhormat Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports also joined the ASCC Ministers and representative as panelists at the ASCC High-Level Forum 2025 on 7 October 2025.  The Forum was held for the first time, which provided an important platform to exchange achievements and ways forward for ASCC priority areas on lessons learned and accomplishment of the ASCC Blueprint 2025.  Under the theme of “Fostering Youth.

Empowerment and Unlocking Investment for Climate Action and Cultural Creative Industries", Yang Berhormat Dato spoke on how ASEAN sports cooperation can play a key role in reinforcing greater regional harmony by encouraging sportsmanship between countries, unifying communities and inculcating discipline and resilience to youth. Yang Berhormat Dato also highlighted the potential of sports cooperation in strengthening ASEAN's identity, such as through promoting ASEAN traditional sports for international games which can showcase ASEAN's lifestyle as well as cultural heritage.

The 34th ASCC Council Meeting and the ASCC High-Level Forum 2025, was preceded by the 39th Senior Officials' Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) Meeting held on 7 October 2025. On the sidelines of the 34th ASCC Meeting, Ministers were also invited to tour the ASEAN Arts and Crafts Bazaar 2025, which was held from 6th to 8th October 2025, and participated by over thirty (30) exhibitors from all ASEAN Member States, including from Brunei Darussalam.

Yang Berhormat Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports was accompanied by Yang Mulia Dayang Hajah Nor Ashikin bin Haji Johari, Permanent Secretary (Community), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as Brunei's SOCA Leader, and senior officials of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.  

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