보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Korea, China, Japan, and ASEAN Discuss
a Regional Cooperation Framework on Social Welfare and Development
to Create an Inclusive Society

The First Vice Minister Lee Kiil attends the 7th AMMSWD+3

Delegates of member countries present and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation
to achieve gender equality through gender mainstreaming and social inclusion

As a delegate of the Korean government, Lee Kiil, the First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, attended the ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD+3) via video conference held on May 25 (Thur.) to discuss ways to expand cooperation with ASEAN, China, and Japan on social welfare and development.

The video conference featured presentations and discussions on implementing ASEAN’s major declarations on social welfare under the theme “Accelerating the Implementation of ASEAN’s Commitments for Gender Equality through Gender Equality through Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion.”

In his presentation, Vice Minister Lee talked about Korea’s gender equality policy, including improving women’s employment rate, the operation of the Gender Equality Council, and the policy on increasing women’s participation in politics. He also explained Korea’s responses to its low fertility and aging population under the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing and its efforts to implement the agreements on the rights of people with disabilities, including ratifying the “Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” under the ASEAN’s Masterplan of Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

A Joint Statement of the Seventh ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development was documented and adopted as a result of the conference. The joint statement reinforces the strong commitment of Korea, China, Japan, and ASEAN to intensify regional cooperation on social welfare and development.

Vice Minister Lee said, “The Korean government intends to help promote freedom, peace, and prosperity in the region by implementing the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Today’s conference is a step in that direction.” He added, “I am hopeful that the outcomes of the conference will help us build a regional cooperation framework on social welfare and development and contribute to creating an inclusive society for Korea, China, Japan, and ASEAN.” ///