Phnom Penh - The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah attended the 8th Asean Socio-Cultural Council (ASCC) Meeting yesterday in Phnom Penh; Cambodia.

The meeting was chaired by Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister and Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and attended by other Asean ministers as well as the Deputy Secretary-General of Asean.

Among matters that were discussed and agreed upon during the meeting included the setting up of a working committee for the formation of an ASCC Fund; for senior officials of the ASCC to consider suggestions made in working papers regarding social protection and involvement of relevant bodies; and a mid-term review of the ASCC Blueprint to be carried out in June 2013.

Brunei Darussalam will host the 9th ASCC Meeting in 2013. The 8th ASCC Meeting was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awg Haji Hazair and other Asean ministers paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Cambodia at the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh.

Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awg Haji Hazair and other Asean ministers also paid their respects to the late King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. Last evening, Asean ASCC ministers and their delegations attended a farewell reception hosted by Sun Chanthol.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin