The information was released on August 21 during a national conference held in Ha Noi by MOHA in order to conduct a mid-term review of the implementation of the project on formulating and executing the plan to achieve the objectives of ASCC by 2025 (known as Project 161).
Speaking at the conference, MOHA Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang emphasised that Project 161, as approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 161/QD-TTg (dated January 25, 2016), is now entering its final months of implementation.
Over the past 10 years, the contents of the project have been effectively integrated into the plans, policies, and action programmes of ministries, sectors, localities, and socio-political organisations. Many objectives of the ASCC have been concretised into tasks and solutions with clearly defined responsibilities.
In addition to issuing their own action plans, ministries, sectors, and localities have proactively integrated ASEAN objectives into foreign affairs, communications, administrative reform, and the improvement of public service quality.
As a result, all five content groups of the project — building a cohesive, inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and dynamic community — have been implemented in a comprehensive manner.
According to Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang, 2025 marks a significant milestone as the country undertakes a streamlining revolution, reorganising administrative units at all levels and operating a two-tier local government model.
From central to local levels, the administrative apparatus has been streamlined, and online public services have become increasingly complete and transparent, improving service quality. This is a major step forward that directly contributes to the first objective of Project 161 — building a cohesive community that delivers practical benefits to the people.
The Deputy Minister also noted that the training and capacity building of cadres, civil servants, and public employees have continued to be strengthened over the years, despite challenges faced during the implementation of Project 161, such as limited resources, coordination mechanisms, and connectivity issues.
Notably, in 2018, the MOHA submitted a project to the Prime Minister on implementing the "ASEAN Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025." This provided a basis for ministries, sectors, and localities to develop implementation plans, thereby enhancing the accountability of cadres, civil servants, and public employees; improving the effectiveness of training and capacity building; and fostering progress in administrative reform and public service delivery.
Despite facing several difficulties and challenges during the implementation of Project 161, such as limited resources, coordination mechanisms, and connectivity issues, the training and capacity building of cadres, civil servants, and public employees have continued to be strengthened over the years.
Based on the experience of the previous phase, the MOHA has established a steering committee and a task force to develop a new project to implement the ASCC strategic plan beyond 2025. This new project will build upon and further develop the achievements of Project 161 and is expected to be implemented nationwide once approved by the Prime Minister.
