The 13th ASEAN Summit held in Singapore on 20th November, 2007, agreed to develop an ASCC Blueprint to ensure that concrete actions are undertaken to promote the establishment of an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
The Socio- Cultural Pillar or the “ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community” (ASCC) forms an important part of the ASEAN Community which aims for a common identity which encompasses social and cultural diversities in each country.
Building the ASEAN Socio- Cultural Community is a great challenge to the present social and cultural diversities in the ten ASEAN Countries. Over 580 million people in the region are rich with similarity and difference in ways of life, races, religions, languages and local traditions. ASEAN encourages its people to maintain and develop individual community’s culture and tradition while promoting basic elements in social development.