AKP Phnom Penh, March 16, 2021 --   

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) is going to organise its 2nd meeting on Mar. 19 under the theme "Harnessing Culture and Innovation for Shared Prosperity during COVID-19 and Beyond.”

According to an ACC’s press release, the online conference will be presided over by Hon. Jose de Venecia, Founder of ICAPP; Hon. Ms. Khuon Sudary, Second Vice President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, Vice Chairperson of ICAPP Standing Committee and Chairperson of the ACC; and Hon. Cho byuong Jae, Secretary General of the ICAPP. They will provide welcome remarks and keynote addresses during the conference.

The 2nd meeting of the ACC is intended to bring together regional cultural experts and policymakers to share perspectives and find practical solutions in the context of COVID-19 pandemic on two key topics including: 1) investing in culture and creativity for inclusive growth; and 2) promoting culture-innovation nexus. At the end of the video conference, the ACC expects to issue a Phnom Penh Declaration on "Cultural Cooperation and Innovation for Shared Prosperity during COVID-19 and Beyond."

The ACC is a subsidiary of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). It was first launched on Jan. 15, 2019 in Siem Reap province in the backdrop of the magnificent temples of Angkor which is a UNESCO world heritage site. The meeting was presided over by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, President of Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Honorary Founding Chairperson of the ACC; H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, former two times vice president of Indonesia and an Honorary Founding Co-chairperson of the ACC; as well as more than 800 Asian lawmakers, ministers of culture, UNESCO director general and Asian high-ranking dignitaries.

UNESCO formally recognises the "Asian Cultural Council" as a good cooperative partner in cultural affairs, and the two organisations have been working together on several projects including the study of Asian cultural policies in 2019 as a preparation for the meeting of ministers of culture in 2019.

By C. Nika