Malaysia Reaffirms Commitment To ASEAN Cultural Community
KOTA KINABALU, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to strengthening cultural relations, deepening a shared regional identity and supporting the ASEAN vision of a culturally confident, inclusive and innovative community.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said this commitment, which aligned with the Malaysia MADANI values of compassion, respect and shared prosperity, is being advanced through several cultural projects.
"We expect its impact to ripple across all Member States as we empower our creative industries and secure fair, reliable livelihoods for our talented artisans and creative entrepreneurs," he said.
Khairul Firdaus said this in his speech at the launch of the 21st Senior Officials' Meeting on Culture and Arts (SOMCA) and related meetings here today.
Khairul Firdaus said the role of culture in international relations had undergone a fundamental transformation in recent years, moving beyond state-to-state exchanges toward a more people-centred approach.
"As we continue to promote our rich cultural diversity, we recognise that greater connectivity is the critical vehicle for forging these deeper human connections," he said.
He added that connectivity, whether through digital platforms, cultural tourism or collaborative arts projects, serve as an essential tool for fostering genuine mutual understanding and strengthening the social fabric between nations.
He emphasised the collective responsibility to translate these aspirations into tangible regional initiatives that provide immediate benefits to the people.
"Working together alongside SOMCA, the support from the ASEAN Plus Three countries is integral to our work. We were pleased to have our esteemed colleagues from China, Japan, and South Korea present today," he said.
"We deeply value the friendly relations and the mutually beneficial dialogue and partnerships we have established with all three Dialogue Partners in the sphere of culture and arts."
He explained that Plus Three cooperation enabled the region to focus on its shared mandate of using culture and arts to cultivate peace, tolerance and mutual understanding.
"This goal is being actively pursued through vital regional initiatives including the ASEAN Festival of Arts, the ASEAN City of Culture and the Best of ASEAN Performing Arts," he added.
-- BERNAMA
