Opening of the 16th ASEAN Ministers on Information Meeting

ASEAN member countries attending the Conference. (Photo: Van Dung/VNA)

On the morning of September 22, the Opening Ceremony of the 16th ASEAN Ministers on Information Meeting (AMRI-16) took place in Da Nang .

The conference, hosted by Vietnam, was attended by 9 ASEAN member countries, Timor-Leste (invited as an observer) and 3 partner countries including Japan, South Korea and China.

The theme running through the entire Conference is “Communication: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Adaptive ASEAN.”

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Ms. Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, said that the Declaration of the 43rd ASEAN Summit recently provided orientations for building the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, developing a self-reliant, creative, dynamic and people-centered community, capable of seizing opportunities, solving emerging issues and future challenges.

At the same time, it sets out the task of consolidating identity and enhancing solidarity and unity within ASEAN.

In that development process, along with the major trends of the times, cooperation in press and media information plays an important role in connecting and spreading values in the ASEAN Community.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan emphasized that in participating in the common development process, Vietnam pays special attention to the information and communication sector.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan speaks at the Opening Ceremony. (Photo: Van Dung/VNA)

On April 6, the Prime Minister of Vietnam approved the Digital Transformation Strategy of the Press to 2025, with a vision to 2030, with the goal of building a professional, humane, and modern press agency through the application of advanced technology in press activities, developing digital platforms, and enriching the digital press ecosystem with new and superior features, helping to improve the quality and effectiveness of communication, and strengthening Vietnam's connection with the international community.

According to Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, the world is in a period of great change, information is resonated by technology and the Internet, causing the speed of spread and the level of influence to take place on a global scale, affecting both positively and negatively.

Therefore, cooperation to promote timely and accurate access to information based on digital capacity, turning information into knowledge to support businesses, improve people's livelihoods and lives, and minimize the impact of negative information is an urgent need today, at the national, regional and international levels, including ASEAN.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan affirmed that the ASEAN Information Ministers Meeting is an important forum for member countries and other countries to dialogue, exchange and identify priorities and directions for cooperation in the coming time, joining hands to successfully implement the United Nations Millennium Goals and the priorities of the ASEAN Community.

The Ministers and delegates shared and made valuable recommendations to the ASEAN summit; agreed on specific action programs to continue affirming and further promoting the important role of the information sector in the ASEAN development process; turning information into knowledge for the people as the theme of this year's Conference "Communication: From information to knowledge for a resilient and adaptive ASEAN."

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hopes that the Conference will focus on discussing a number of solutions to promote digital transformation; improve Internet access and digital skills for people; enhance the promotion of the image of ASEAN and its member countries; promote official and positive information; handle fake news; pay attention to rural, remote and isolated areas and facilities to serve the people, ensuring that knowledge is widely spread and no one is left behind.

Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, speaks at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Van Dung/VNA)

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Ekkaphab Phanthavong said that with the ASEAN region emerging from the pandemic, the information and communications sector plays an important and cross-cutting role in promoting the ASEAN Community vision.

The fruitful discussions of SOMRI and the Ministers’ discussion on the theme “Communications: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN” will further energise regional cooperation and strategic directions towards inclusive, sustainable and social development.

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications of Vietnam, the information and communications sector must transform from simply providing information and news to providing knowledge and understanding to people, helping them survive in a volatile, unpredictable, complex and ambiguous world.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications of Vietnam, speaks at the Opening Ceremony. (Photo: Van Dung/VNA)

According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, social networks must become social networks of information, knowledge and understanding.

Digital technology, especially artificial intelligence, is poised to create knowledge and understanding from information.

However, ASEAN information and communications leaders must lead this process.

The AMRI-16 Ministers of Information proudly declared the new mission of the media to create knowledge and understanding from information, thereby empowering people, helping them to be confident, master their destiny and happy./.

Vo Van Dung (Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

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