| Azlan Othman |
A DEEPER appreciation of cultural and traditional diversity is required for a cohesive and integrated Asean Community, said Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato
Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The minister was speaking at the opening of the 7th Meeting of Asean Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA), and other related meetings with dialogue partners yesterday, at the Prime Minister’s Office Building.
“Our leaders recognise that the rich cultural diversity in Asean is an important enabler towards building a people-centred Asean Community,” he said.
“They have accordingly tasked us, AMCA ministers, to further strengthen cooperation in culture and arts, which are pivotal in promoting Asean identity.”
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in a group photo with Asean Ministers.
The minister also expressed his view that AMCA should oversee the role of educational institutions in disseminating cultural values, in addition to creating more economic opportunities for women and future youth leaders.
Earlier, Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the chairperson of the 12th Asean Senior Officials Meeting for Culture and Arts (SOMCA), welcomed the AMCA ministers, saying that SOMCA had already assessed the relevant documents to be presented at the meeting.
Two of those documents are the Cultural and Arts Strategic Plan (2016-2025) and the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Culture and Arts.
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