Shaping ASEAN's digital future: safe, innovative, and inclusive.

With the theme “Safety, Innovation, Inclusion: Shaping ASEAN’s Digital Future”, the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting and related conferences recently took place in Bangkok, Thailand.

Các nước ASEAN nhất trí xây dựng môi trường số an toàn. (Nguồn: Ban Thư ký ASEAN)

Delegates attending the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting and related meetings from January 13-17 in Thailand. (Source: ASEAN Secretariat)

The conference reflects the commitment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to building a safe digital environment, including timely response to online threats and cybercrime, developing new initiatives and technologies, and ensuring equitable access to technology.

According to Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Jantararuangtong, the conference discussed various cooperation frameworks including cybersecurity, cross-border data exchange, and joint development of the digital economy.

The delegates also endorsed the Bangkok Declaration, which serves as a guide on how ASEAN members can and should cooperate more closely in preventing and addressing online crime.

Key partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, the United States, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are also participating in negotiations aimed at promoting digital standards and cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Prasert stated that Thailand signed two agreements at the conference. The first is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cambodia aimed at promoting cooperation in various fields including digital platform services, facilitating access to digital technology , cybersecurity, and combating online fraud.

The remaining agreement, a MoU with the Philippines, aims to promote investment in digital infrastructure, good governance in e- government , and the development of emerging technologies such as cloud computing and big data. Cybersecurity will also be promoted through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and joint training.

In addition, Mr. Prasert said that representatives from Myanmar attending the conference also pledged to cooperate with Thailand in the fight against transnational call center gangs.

The 6th Ministerial Conference will take place in Vietnam next year.

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