6 days ago
Melaka Declaration Workshop Drives ASEAN Cultural Cooperation And Heritage Transformation
MELAKA, July 23 (Bernama) -- The International Workshop on the Melaka Declaration on Cultural Heritage Value Creation has emerged as a key driver in advancing regional cultural cooperation, with ASEAN member states charting new ways to transform shared heritage into a force for sustainable development and diplomacy.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) secretary general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said the two-day workshop is seen as a catalyst for deeper ASEAN cultural ties, with Malaysia taking a leading role in heritage preservation, value creation and cross-border cultural diplomacy.
He said the workshop aims to translate the Melaka Declaration into concrete frameworks that promote the creation of shared heritage value, enhance regional resilience and generate sustainable socio-economic benefits across ASEAN.
'This is not merely a workshop, but a strategic platform to spark new partnerships, build knowledge, and collectively shape ASEAN's cultural future. It is a game-changer for regional cooperation,' he told Bernama after officiating the opening ceremony of the workshop, here today.
He said key focus areas include unlocking the socio-economic potential of tangible and intangible heritage, raising grassroots awareness on heritage preservation, integrating culture into sustainable development policies, and advancing cross-border repatriation and protection of shared cultural assets.
Through panel discussions, breakout sessions and plenary engagements, he said participants are expected to identify strategies to strengthen the heritage value chain, boost heritage tourism, generate job opportunities and embed culture within national and regional development agendas.
"The workshop also acts as a springboard for capacity building among ASEAN stakeholders with knowledge transfer in areas such as heritage management, repatriation procedures and sustainable tourism planning," he said.
Apart from that, he said MOTAC sees the workshop as a significant contributor to the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit, with its outcomes expected to inform the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community outcome document that will shape future cultural cooperation across the region.
By centring value creation in cultural cooperation, he believes the workshop will provide stakeholders with a clear roadmap to transform cultural assets into inclusive economic drivers, spanning heritage tourism, creative industries, education and community empowerment.
