PRESS RELEASES

The 5th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development

6 October 2016

The 5th ASEAN Plus Three (Japan-China-Republic of Korea) Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 30 September 2016. State Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Gaku Hashimoto attended the meeting.

The Meeting was themed “Strengthening Social Welfare Development in Pursuing ASEAN Community Vision 2025”. ASEAN Member States and Plus Three countries briefed the meeting on their own policies and efforts on improving social welfare. Japan explained its policies on the aging society, the empowerment of women and the promotion of a mother-friendly society and facilitation of environment for persons with disabilities and expressed to extend its assistance for the aging issue in Asia region.

Participants actively exchanged views on current situations and future directions of ASEAN Plus Three cooperation on social welfare, and adopted the Joint Statement.

The 6th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development will be hosted by Lao PDR in 2019.