KUALA LUMPUR, 30 June 2025 – Regional leaders and experts convened today at the ASEAN+ROK Conference on Care and Support for Older Persons, signaling a reinforced commitment to building inclusive and supportive environments for ageing populations. The conference operates under the theme, “Nurturing a Shared Future: Bridging Generations, Strengthening Communities, and Innovating Care.”
The opening ceremony featured influential voices from across the region. H.E. Datuk Dr. Maziah Che Yusoff, Secretary-General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, delivered a welcoming address, highlighting the critical need to adapt care systems to the demographic realities of ageing societies.
Opening messages were also delivered by H.E. Lee Jang-Keun, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN, who underscored Korea’s commitment to knowledge-sharing in long-term care; H.E. San Lwin, ASEAN DSG for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), who emphasised the role of social protection; and H.E. Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Chair of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) and Malaysia’s Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, who reaffirmed a shared vision of ageing with dignity and security.
ACAI sets a course for healthy, active, and productive ageing through a presentation by Dr. Somsak Akksilp, ACAI Executive Director, on ACAI’s mission to transform the narrative of ageing from a challenge into a powerful platform for inclusive growth and innovation.
“With the right systems, older persons can thrive, not just survive. Ageing is an opportunity to innovate, empower, and connect generations,” stated Dr. Somsak Akksilp.
In his address, Dr. Somsak highlighted that the ASEAN region is facing accelerated ageing, even while many member states are still in a developmental transition. He stressed that to meet this challenge, policies must adopt a life-course approach that supports health, income security, digital inclusion, and climate resilience for all ages. He also noted that ACAI’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan is aligned with major global frameworks, including the Decade of Healthy Ageing, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Furthermore, Dr. Somsak outlined several of ACAI’s core initiatives designed to drive this vision forward. These include the ASEAN Active Ageing Index (AAAI), a dedicated workshop and training for Country Coordinators, the Happy Retirement Project, and a program to develop Smart and Age-Friendly Cities based on the Rayong–Fukuoka model. Researchers and innovators can also submit proposals to contribute to the ACAI Call for Research and Innovation 2025.
The conference continues until July 2nd, featuring a packed agenda of forums, keynote speeches, and best-practice sharing sessions aimed at strengthening care and support systems for older persons across the ASEAN region and the Republic of Korea.
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