ASEAN-CHINA MEDIA COOPERATION FORUM 2019

By Qi Kai

China-ASEAN media cooperation enters a new stage of comprehensive development

Guo Weimin, Vice Minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), People’s Republic of China

I hope that the media of both sides continue efforts to advocate peace,stability and win-win cooperation in Asia and lift media innovation, exchange and cooperation to a new level.

Dr. AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs

The world today has witnessed great changes in the media landscape and leapfrog progress in media technology. In the multimedia era, it’s imperative for media outlets to upgrade their skills and provide diverse news products to attract wider readership.

Du Zhanyuan, President of China International Publishing Group (CIPG)

The media of China and ASEAN should focus on long-term friendly cooperation and forge a mechanism for regular regional cooperation and exchange, address challenges brought by new technology and foster a new landscape of high-level international communication.

Huang Xilian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN

I hope to see media cooperation between China and ASEAN constantly deepen to contribute wisdom and energy to construction of higherlevel China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

T his year marks the China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchange, and in a congratulatory message to its opening ceremony held in Beijing on February 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China-ASEAN relations had entered a new phase of all-around development. He expressed hope that media from both sides would serve as messengers of friendly exchange, facilitators of pragmatic cooperation,guardians of harmonious coexistence and profound storytellers of peace and development to make great contributions to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

On May 14, on the eve of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, the second ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum with the theme “New Trends, New Cooperation, New Future” was held in Beijing.Heads of the mainstream media organizations from China and 10 ASEAN member states joined diplomats and representatives of international organizations in in-depth discussions on how the media from the two sides can play a greater role in promoting cooperation and people-topeople exchange by staying abreast with new trends brought by new technology.

Responsibilities of the Times

“Since the beginning, my career has been closely associated with ASEAN and Southeast Asia,” revealed Ling Shuo,editorial board member of the International Department of Xinhua News Agency, who has witnessed the development of Southeast Asian countries as a resident journalist. He considers it a major responsibility of media practitioners to tell stories of the region to make our voices heard.

Zhao Jun, editor-in-chief of China Report ASEAN under China International Publishing Group (CIPG), said that since its establishment, the platform of China Report ASEAN has remained committed to promoting the development of friendly relations between China and ASEAN through the power of the media. “Cooperation through the media permeates all sectors of society, including think tanks,which can produce more wisdom and programs,” she said.

Nargis Binti Mohamad Ali,senior reporter of Brunei Press Sdn Bhd, believes that ASEAN and Chinese media should strengthen cooperation and promote crossborder reporting programs to cooperate in a wider range of areas.

True Stories

“With the expansion of the new media, there has been a proliferation of fake news,and all kinds of rumors are prone to conflict and hatred,posing a severe threat to the stability of the region and the world,” commented Aung Zaw Lin, deputy chief editor of News & Periodicals Enterprise, Myanmar Ministry of Information.

Opening ceremony of the second ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum themed“New Trends, New Cooperation, New Future” in Beijing on May 14.

Xu Liping, researcher at the Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,fully agreed with Lin. “It is not uncommon for people from two different sides to get to know each other through information from third parties,” he explained.“The most critical issue for the media of China and ASEAN countries is true content, which should be the priority of our cooperation.”

Fan Zongding, local news editor and columnist of World News of the Philippines, thinks that some historical disputes between China and ASEAN countries have been bewitched by some countries and exaggerated in traditional media reports.Unfortunately, new media tends to go to the extreme with those disputes.

Azman Bin Abdul Hamid,editor of the New Straits Times of Malaysia, thinks that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is very important because it is conducive to common prosperity around the world. However, reporting on the initiative has been intentionally distorted by some media outlets.

Making Better Use of Technology

Mellani Eka Mahayana,executive editor of Rakyat Merdeka Daily of Indonesia,believes that in the new media era, professional media practitioners should be able to provide more professional,credible and valuable information. “We need to continuously strengthen ourselves through digital technology to adapt to this new era,” she suggested.

“We should know what technologies we can use and how we can use them,”commented Lee Huay Leng,head of the Chinese Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. “Of course, we should also take cost into account and maintain a certain business model.”

“With the development of media integration, our focus remains on content, while importance will also be attached to cutting-edge technology,”commented Wang Junming,director of the International Department of Science and Technology Daily of China.

Kem Gunawadh, Secretary of State, Ministry of Information, Kingdom of Cambodia

Considering the fruitful outcomes that BRI cooperation has achieved, it is crucial for ASEAN and Chinese media to promote practical cooperation and exchange across the board.

Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN China Centre (ACC)

The media should gather positive energy for regional development and convey to the world the confidence and aspirations of ASEAN countries and China for development of peace, cooperation and mutual benefit in an accurate and comprehensive way.

Jose Santiago Sta, Romana, Philippine Ambassador to China

All ASEAN member states are active participants in the BRI. The media should get the message across to the rest of the world that the BRI will benefit all, as each country is striving to achieve development goals.

Gao Anming, Vice President of CIPG

Media technology is transforming the ecology of the media in a profound and comprehensive way. The media has a more diverse and urgent need for information exchange and cooperation.

Chen Shi, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of CIPG and President of China Report Press

China Report Press of CIPG, in collaboration with ASEAN media outlets, has completed a series of journeys on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and other exchange activities. In the future, we will organize more pragmatic cooperation programs for mutual learning.