ASEAN Media Champions Cooperation for Amity and Innovation

The 2024 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum themed “Amity and Innovation Matter for a Shared Future”, co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and China International Communications Group (CICG), was successfully concluded in Dezhou City of Shandong Province on 21 June 2024. During the parallel sessions, centering on the topics of “Media's Responsibility in Enhancing People-to-people Ties” and “Media’s Role in Innovative Empowerment", ASEAN media representatives shared their views and recommendations on how media can better promote mutual understanding between ASEAN and China, and further strengthen innovative cooperation between the media agencies from both sides.

Deputy Executive General Sao Phirun of BTV of Cambodia stressed that the media is essential in fostering mutual understanding and communication between peoples. ASEAN media should distinguish the truth from the fake news and misinformation, and share authentic stories with the ASEAN peoples on China's peaceful development and positive narrative of ASEAN-China friendship. Assistant General Manager Ohmmar Tint San of Shew Than Lwin Media Group of Myanmar said that the Group stands ready to establish good cooperation with media from both ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China, so as to voice their opinions and serve their needs. Wilson Lee Flores, a columnist from the Philippine Star, underlined that some ASEAN countries are still lacking in the awareness of China. That’s why ASEAN media should cultivate global perspectives and strengthen cooperation with China’s media to better tell more good stories on ASEAN-China friendship and cooperation from an Asian perspective.

Editor-in-Chief Theerayut Choonhabodee of Thailand Post Today noted that new technologies such as artificial intelligence generate convenient conditions for news dissemination and remove the linguistic barriers for both Thai and Chinese readers. He emphasized that strengthening experience sharing in news services shall become a crucial area of cooperation for both ASEAN and Chinese media circles to explore in such an era defined by new technologies. Li Yeming, the founder of the Singapore blog “Sgwritings”, pointed out that, while greatly promoting and upgrading media communication methods, innovative technologies have also brought forth challenges such as rapid spread of fake news and misinformation. He stressed that media reports should be up-to-date, facts-based and objective, and journalists shall adapt themselves to new communication technologies in a responsible manner so as to provide positive energy for promoting understanding and amity among the peoples. Chief Journalist Supachai Wuthichuwong from MGR Online of Thailand outlined that ASEAN and Chinese media circles should make the best use of technological innovation in the purpose of making the people-to-people exchanges more efficient and facilitating, which will definitely bring the peoples from both ASEAN and China even closer.