I. INTRODUCTION
1. The ASEAN Leaders adopted the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II) in Bali,
Indonesia on 7 October 2003 to establish an ASEAN Community by 2020. The ASEAN Community
shall be established comprising three pillars, namely political and security community, economic
community, and socio-cultural community that are closely intertwined and mutually reinforcing for
the purpose of ensuring durable peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the region.
2. At the 12th ASEAN Summit on 13th January 2007 in Cebu, the Philippines the Leaders,
affirming their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of the ASEAN Community by
2015, signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
3. 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).
II. CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS
4. The primary goal of the ASCC is to contribute to realising an ASEAN Community that is
people-centred and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity
among the nations and peoples of ASEAN by forging a common identity and building a caring and
sharing society which is inclusive and harmonious where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of
the peoples are enhanced.
5. The ASCC will address the region’s aspiration to lift the quality of life of its peoples through
cooperative activities that are people-oriented and environmentally friendly geared towards the
promotion of sustainable development. The ASCC shall contribute to building a strong foundation
for greater understanding, good neighbourliness, and a shared sense of responsibility.
6. The ASCC is characterised by a culture of regional resilience, adherence to agreed
principles, spirit of cooperation, collective responsibility, to promote human and social development,
respect for fundamental freedoms, gender equality, the promotion and protection of human rights
and the promotion of social justice.
7. The ASCC shall respect the different cultures, languages, and religions of the peoples of
ASEAN emphasise their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity and adapt them to present
realities, opportunities and challenges.
8. The ASCC will also focus on the social dimension of Narrowing the Development Gap
(NDG) towards bridging the development gap among Member States.
9. Based on the above, the ASCC envisages the following characteristics: (a) Human
Development; (b) Social Welfare and Protection; (c) Social Justice and Rights; (d) Ensuring
Environmental Sustainability (e) Building the ASEAN Identity; and (f ) Narrowing the Development
Gap.