Over 100 participants gathered at the ASEAN+Republic of Korea (ROK) Conference on Care and Support for Older Persons, with the theme “Nurturing a Shared Future: Bridging Generations, Strengthening Communities, and Innovating Care” from 30 June to 2 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), the conference brought together experts and government officials from the social welfare, healthcare, and employment sectors to share information, professional expertise, and experiences in older persons’ care, refining policies and programmes on senior care and services.
The conference included an exhibition area showcasing innovative products, services, and technology solutions for aged care. Malaysia, the conference host, also organised study visits to local senior care centres, providing participants with exposure to proven practices and approaches in empowering older persons.
Focus on older persons care
Support for the care of older persons has become a priority for ASEAN, as half of its Member States have ageing or rapidly ageing populations.
The ASEAN-ROK Conference on Care and Support for Older Persons is one of the main initiatives to fulfil ASEAN’s commitment to address the challenges of an ageing population. Earlier this year, SOMSWD led regional discussions on ageing populations through the Regional Workshop on Technical Assistance to Provide Access and Opportunity for Older Persons in ASEAN, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the ASEAN+3 Regional Conference on Integration Policy in Fostering an Inclusive Ageing Society through an Intergenerational Approach, also in Bangkok, Thailand. These initiatives further strengthen ASEAN’s cooperation on building inclusive and age-friendly societies.
The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI), the key institution responsible for developing policies and strategies related to active ageing and conducting capacity-building activities in the ASEAN region, participated in this conference. ACAI shared its perspective on promoting active ageing in ASEAN, and its participation provides an opportunity to apply insights from the conference to relevant policy development.
Partnership with the Republic of Korea
ASEAN collaborated with the ROK, one of its long-standing dialogue partners, to organise the conference. As Korea undergoes its own demographic transition and is set to become a super-aged society by 2025, it offers valuable lessons on managing ageing. Experts shared and showcased economic, social, and technological strategies for ageing populations. The ROK saw this conference as an opportunity not only to explore shared solutions with ASEAN but also to strengthen regional cooperation on ageing-related issues. As Chair of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025, Korea has identified demographic change in the Asia-Pacific region as a key agenda item. It led discussions on healthy and active ageing, as well as the intersection of digital technology and health, at related meetings in September. Korea anticipates that this conference and the APEC 2025 discussions will be mutually reinforcing, creating a strong synergy for regional collaboration.
Outcomes
Participants left the conference with a deeper understanding of the key challenges and opportunities in older persons’ care, and better equipped to handle them. They are also expected to form professional networks for future exchanges and collaborations.
The recommendations from the conference will be shared widely and will serve as inputs in the drafting of the post-2025 Work Plan of the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development.
