October 30, 2024
VIENTIANE – ASEAN’s renewed focus on youth, the creative economy, and digitalisation to strengthen regional cultural ties was seen in the 11th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) Meeting, held in Melaka, Malaysia last week.
Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, who chaired the meeting, opened by raising its theme “Bridging Cultures, Building Futures: Unity in Diversity.”
The Malaysian minister called for enhanced innovation and collaboration, stressing that cultural unity is vital to ASEAN’s social and economic resilience.
During the AMCA meeting, ministers from ASEAN and Timor-Leste, along with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, discussed expanding creative industry frameworks and developing policies to sustain regional cultural identities.
Delegates discussed the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework, which will support policies and programmes to boost cultural industries across the region.
Representing Laos, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mrs Darany Phommavongsa, voiced full support for the theme, describing it as timely and essential.
She highlighted the need to empower cultural entrepreneurs in ASEAN, noting their potential to reflect the region’s diversity in their services and products.
The Lao deputy minister also referenced the Vang Vieng Declaration, adopted at the recent ASEAN Summits in Laos, which aims to promote small and medium-sized cultural enterprises in line with green growth objectives.
In the Joint Media Statement, Melaka was acknowledged as the ASEAN City of Culture for 2024-2026, with a series of events planned to celebrate the title, including the ASEAN Festival of Arts and the International Cultural and Arts Festival.
This cultural initiative is aimed at enhancing people-to-people connectivity and deepening mutual understanding across ASEAN.
The statement also reviewed achievements in the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Culture and Arts 2016-2025, which guides member states in fostering sustainable economic growth and protecting cultural heritage.
Highlights included recent initiatives in traditional arts, the promotion of Southeast Asian heritage sites, and collaborative projects on digital archives, which are designed to preserve and promote cultural knowledge across generations.
The meeting further addressed ongoing cooperation with Dialogue Partners, particularly China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, focusing on projects in digital archives, conservation efforts, and the revitalisation of traditional crafts.
These partnerships, delegates agreed, are essential for reinforcing ASEAN’s cultural resilience and expanding opportunities in creative industries.
ASEAN leaders expressed appreciation to Malaysia for hosting the event and look forward to further cooperation at the next ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts Meeting in Myanmar in 2026.