2022 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum Successfully Held in Beijing

On 5 August 2022, the 2022 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum, with the theme of “Global Development: Coordinated Action for a Shared Future”, was successfully held in Beijing. The forum was advised by the State Council Information Office of China, hosted by China International Communications Group (CICG), the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the National Institute for Global Strategy of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and undertaken by China Centre for International Communication Development (CCICD) of CICG and China Society of Emerging Economies (CSEE). 

Mr. Zhang Jianchun, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Thai Prime Minister, Dr. Sok Prasith, Secretary of State and Special Representative of Minister of Information of Cambodia, Mr. Du Zhanyuan, President of CICG, Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr. Zhao Qi, Secretary-General of CASS, Mrs. Khamphao Ernthavanh, Ambassador of Lao PDR to China and Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC attended the forum and delivered speeches on site or through prerecorded videos. 

More than 100 Chinese and foreign guests attended the forum online or on site. Among them were Mr. Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of Indonesia to China, Mrs. Zin Mar Htwe, DCM and Minister Counsellor of Myanmar Embassy in China and other diplomatic envoys of ASEAN Member States (AMS) to China, as well as representatives of media and think tanks from AMS and China. 

Vice Minister Zhang Jianchun said that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) is a major initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping to respond to the question of our times, focusing on the theme of development and addressing the common problems of mankind. GDI provides solutions to solving global development problems and making up for the world development deficit. Media and think tanks are important forces to promote social development. It is important to pool wisdom and strength together to promote the implementation of GDI and the development of ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed that it is now vital to revive the spirit of international cooperation and support a stronger system of multilateralism. The GDI, the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) provide important instruments to ASEAN and China to achieve this goal. The two sides should take coordinated action with the help of the media and think tanks to continuously propel global development forward.

Secretary of State Sok Prasith briefed the audience on media cooperation between Cambodia and China at different levels and pointed out that media is one of the key priority areas that every government never overlooks. This forum will further promote the networking between media agencies of ASEAN and China for their long-term cooperation, and enhance friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples. The Cambodian side will continue strengthening the existing media cooperation for common development of the two countries

President Du Zhanyuan said that promoting global sustainable development is a common task faced by all countries in the world, including China and AMS. It is important to implement the GDI and consolidate the development consensus between ASEAN and China, and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership by giving full play to the strength of media and think tanks. Both sides need to explore new ways of cultural exchange, and jointly promote exchange and mutual learning among civilisations. CICG is willing to make new contributions to the joint endeavour for a closer ASEAN-China community of shared future.

Deputy Secretary General Ekkaphab Phanthavong introduced the latest development of ASEAN-China relations and said that the media play important role to provide awareness of news from authorities in ASEAN and China, help promote the narrative of ASEAN-China extensive cooperation, and offer opportunities to afford two peoples to know each other better, including their collective hopes and aspirations. Media on both sides can take the advantage of rapid digital development to better promote information accessibility and inclusiveness, cooperate in content development and exchanges, to better meet the needs of digital consumption and facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Secretary-General Zhao Qi stressed that as promoters and contributors to global development, ASEAN and China play important roles in global development and governance. It is important to strengthen the docking of development strategies and policy communication, build a development cooperation platform and a long-term mechanism to realise the complementarity of development strengths and achievement sharing, and also to promote experience exchange and idea innovation. It is expected that media and think tanks contribute more to deepening global development cooperation.

Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh pointed out that the forum provides an effective mechanism for media and think tanks to exchange views and share experiences on strengthening regional economic and trade cooperation to achieve sustainable development in ASEAN and China. ASEAN-China relations continue to be upgraded. Media cooperation has enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and spread the positive energy of ASEAN-China mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation. It serves as a significant bridge for enhancing people-to-people connectivity. The two sides should strengthen synergy between ASEAN Community Vision 2025, GDI and other initiatives such as Belt and Road to generate more cooperation opportunities.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai noted that ASEAN and Chinese media should focus on two major themes of pandemic control and economic recovery, and tell good stories of ASEAN-China development to create a more favourable social and public opinion environment for deepening cooperation between the two sides. Media should serve as bridges to strengthen information exchange and promote synergy of GDI and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Media should also keep pace with new technology development and meet the needs of public communication, and promote more solid progress in ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges. ACC will remain committed to promoting information and media exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China.

In the media session, media representatives from AMS and China exchanged views under the theme “Global Development Initiative and Media’s Responsibility”. Among them are Jian Hua Daily from Cambodia, the Nation from Thailand, Lianhe Zaobao from Singapore, News and Periodicals Enterprise of Myanmar Ministry of Information, Manila Bulletin from the Philippines and Republika from Indonesia, People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), China Daily, China News Service, and CICG from China. Participants were of the view that media should commit to promoting positive energy through faithful, objective and balanced reports and provide positive lead in public opinion. The strengthening of media cooperation between ASEAN and China is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding and jointly tackling global challenges. Deputy Director Fang Qiang of Information and Public Relations Division (IPRD) of ACC and Director-General Liu Shuangyan of International Cooperation Department of CICG jointly presided over the media session.

On the sidelines of the forum, ASEAN and Chinese guests also enjoyed the Photo Exhibition on Indonesia-China Ecological Conservation Achievements co-sponsored by CICG, the Indonesian Embassy in China, ACC and the Information Office of the Qinghai Provincial Government.