MEETING RENEWS HOPE TO CREATE 1ASEAN THROUGH CULTURE

From Newmond Tibia Tibin

PAMPANGA (Philippines), March 26 (Bernama) -- The 4th Meeting of Asean
Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) and AMCA+3 (China, Japan,
Korea) ended here Friday, with renewed hope to forge a strong regional identity
for 1Asean, through culture and the arts.

Delivering a joint media statement after the meeting, Dr Vilma L. Labrador,
Chairman of the Philippine National Commission, Culture of Arts (Minister
Responsible for Culture and Arts), said the ministers were fully committed to
enhance Asean cooperation, particularly in culture and the arts.

She said, the focus would be on human resources development, the protection,
preservation and promotion of Asean cultural heritage, and the development of
small and medium-sized cultural enterprises.

Vilma said the ministers also noted the Best of Asean Performing Arts series
had been a resounding success and was an excellent example of promoting and
inculcating appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Asean community.

In this respect, the ministers suggested that the Best of Asean Performing
Arts series be developed as a programme for bridging cultures among Asean member
states, she said.

"The ministers want this series expanded to include other aspects of
cultures such as theatre, music, art and crafts and be organised as an annual
event by member states on a rotational basis," she said.

Vilma said the ministers also suggested that the Best of Performing Arts be

extended to include the participation of AMCA+3 countries -- China, Japan and
Korea.

She said Asean ministers welcomed the prospect of an Asean plus three
work plan, containing concrete programmes and projects to steer cultural
cooperation between Asean member states and the plus three countries.

She said the ministers also recognised culture as being closely linked with
ICT, and acknowledged the significance of developing Asean local content,
preferably in collaboration with the dialogue partners.

The AMCA and AMCA+3 Ministerial Meetings are held biennially. The first AMCA
Meeting was held in Malaysia in 2003, Thailand (2005), Myanmar (2008) and this
time in the Philippines.

It is aimed at building cooperation and enhancing relations among Asean
countries and between Asean and Korea, China and Japan in the field of culture
and arts.
-- BERNAMA