The 2^nd ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development opened in Hanoi on December 7, drawing the participation of three partner countries – Japan, the Republic of Korea and China.

The meeting is a follow up to the 6^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development held on December 6.

The 2^nd ASEAN+3 meeting reviewed bilateral and multi-lateral cooperative initiatives at micro and marco levels to improve the effectiveness of common targets.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said: “With a view to ensuring social equality and sustainable development, the Governments of ASEAN+3 have implemented a number of measures to promote an inclusive, barrier-free and human rights-based society.”

An inclusive, barrier-free and human rights-based society is where the vulnerable people in general and people with disabilities in particular are no longer a burden for society. They have belief and hope to live, study, work and contribute to the homeland. They are not alone as they have the State, community, relatives and families to stand on side to help them overcome challenges in daily life.

Regional countries can develop a system of social security warning indicators, cooperate in training staffs responsible for rehabilitating people with disabilities, and exchange students to improve training skills and increase mutual understanding.

Minister Ngan said cooperation among Southeast Asian and East Asian countries in social welfare and development plays an important role in socio-economic development.

Social welfare and development is the top concern of nations in Southeast Asia and the world. It provides a foundation for economic stability and growth, social equality and sustained development. Therefore, most regional countries consider social welfare and development a priority in their socio-economic strategy.

Over the past years, ASEAN countries have received financial and technical assistance from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea through conferences and study tours share experiences in improving capacity building and training skills for staff and leaders in the area of social welfare and development. The assistance has helped raise the ASEAN countries’ awareness and capacity to address social problems. ASEAN countries and the three partners highly appreciate the cooperation, considering it a noble mandate for each nation to build a society of equality and sustained development, able to protect its citizens from any possible risks.