The First ASEAN Plus Three Media Cooperation Forum opened in north China's port city Tianjin on Aug. 21. It attracted mainstream media form the ten ASEAN countries and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Themed "Strengthen Media Cooperation, Deliver Asian Voice", the forum focused on media's role in promoting the 10+3 cooperation, how to make Asia's voice louder on the international arena and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a magnificent event in Asia. Delegates conducted in-depth discussions on the three subjects and reached consensus.
Focusing on cooperation, building bridge
This year marks the 10th anniversary of cooperation between ASEAN member countries and China, Japan and the ROK. With the joint efforts of the "10+3" countries over the past 10 years, the cooperation has gradually expanded from economic field to political, cultural and media areas, which promoted the integration process of regional economy and social improvement within East Asia, the most rapid-moving and vigorous region. It also accelerated peace, development and stability and played a very active role in improving the international status and influence of this region.
The Forum was proposed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the 10th ASEAN Plus China, Japan and ROK Summit ("10+3" Summit) held January in Cebu, the Philippines. He said the development of "10+3" cooperation is dependent on the involvement and support of social circles and needs the strengthening of exchange and cooperation among media so as to expand East Asia's influence around the globe.
Expanding exchanges, uniting to self-dependence
Delegates spoke highly of the media's role in promoting the "10+3" cooperation. Yang Xingfeng, board chairman of Nanfang Press Corporation said that by the efforts on disseminating information, raising topics for discussion and guiding public opinion, media had a wide range of impact on the receivers' view about the East Asia cooperation. It also had influence on governments' decision and promoted the cooperation process.
Kon Vee Ming, assistant news desk editor of Borneo Bulletin, Brunei, said media exchange programmes are essential for promoting the cultural enrichment among the 10+3 countries in order to help enhance the people-to-people understanding and relations. Constant communication between media agencies from ASEAN members with China, Japan and the ROK can be one of the main engines in reducing misunderstanding as well as promoting the 10+3 cooperation in each country, he said.
Delegates also offered their suggestions on how to make Asia's voice louder on the international area. Akhmad Kusaen, deputy editor-in-chief of ANTARA, the Indonesia National News Agency, said it is not right for western news agencies to decide headlines of Asian media since their Asian reports are more often than not deeply biased and full of misunderstandings. So media in Asia should step up dialogues at various levels and address differences on the basis of mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving differences. Asia media should perform what is called "press diplomacy", he said.
Grasping opportunities, deepening cooperation
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games provides an important opportunity for Asia's media to show themselves, carry out cooperation and strengthen the voice of Asia. Juan V. Sarmiento JR., senior editor of Philippine Daily Inquirer, said the Games will be a magnificent event to the world spectators and media staff. Asian media can promote cooperation by sharing information.
Sruat Preechatam, China news editor for Manager Daily newspaper and Manager Online department of M-Group, Thailand, said strengthening Asia's voice is a very hard task, for which there is a long way to go.
Delegates reached consensus on strengthening media cooperation and delivering Asia's voice despite differences in society, policy, economy, culture, religion and the way of life in East Asian countries.
We have reason to believe this forum will help open a new chapter for the "10+3" media cooperation, raise Asia's voice on the international arena and contribute to the construction of a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious East Asia.
By People's Daily Online
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article