At the opening of the ASEAN Plus Three Media Cooperation Forum
By Miss Suchela Phachaiyapoom
Senior Officer, Public Affairs Office, the ASEAN Secretariat
Mr. Wang Chen, President of People’s Daily
Respectable guests, Chief-editors, Editors, Deputy-editors
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good Morning,
On behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat, please allow me to convey my gratitude for your warm hospitality and the excellent arrangement for today’s Forum.
It is an honor to be here among such distinguished participants to deliver my short remarks.
The theme of the first 10+3 Media Cooperation Forum – Strengthen Media Cooperation, Deliver Asia’s Voice - is timely and significant.
It is timely – because the ASEAN Plus Three process is entering its 10th year of cooperation. In November 2007, our Leaders are expected to endorse the second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation. This will identify opportunities and challenges - as well as offer strategic guidance for future cooperation.
It is significant – because this Forum has brought together over twenty leading media agencies from 13 countries to strengthen networks, friendships and create an alliance to promote cooperation in the region.
Since its inauguration in 1997, the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation has gradually broadened to cover 20 areas of cooperation in political and security, economic and finance, and socio-cultural fields. Most recently, the cooperation has been extended to women affairs, disaster management, and poverty reduction. The end goal of this cooperation is not only to promote peace but also to improve the lives of the peoples in Southeast and Northeast Asia.
The region also faces many challenges such as emerging diseases and transnational crime. No individual country can handle this alone. Close collaboration among neighbors is important to overcome these challenges. And to gain public support - our citizens need to know H-O-W ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation can benefit their lives.
In today's increasingly interconnected world, the media are the key to create this awareness.
The role of media can go far beyond just providing information. Television, radio, newspaper and the internet are all powerful tools to promote mutual understanding, trust, and people-to-people contact.
Media - especially with today’s technology - can go beyond borders and bridge cultural and historical differences.
Sitting at my computer this morning I read an online newspaper from Kuala Lumpur, listened to my favorite Thai radio station, and checked the weather in Jakarta. At home I watch China's CCTV and Singapore TV.
Today, this ability to instantly access media from across Asia is considered ordinary. It is expected. It is normal. But just ten years ago such speedy and instant access would have been unthinkable.
The Asian audience - readers, viewers, and listeners - are becoming interconnected. We need to do the same.
The Forum today allows leading news decision makers in Asia to get to know each other. It is an excellent platform to share views, ideas, and explore the pooling of resources to strengthen East Asia cooperation and community building.
At the 2007 ASEAN Lecture the Prime Minister of Singapore emphasised the importance of staying united and delivering a cohesive voice. He said -- and thus I will quote directly here - “the rule of the game in the region should be determined from within, not without”.
Strengthening our voice - Asia’s voice - is crucial to determining our shared future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This Forum’s programme is very intensive and interesting. I am confident that this gathering will lead to new measures and closer media cooperation in East Asia.
On behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat, I wish the Forum great success and look forward to a very productive outcome.
Thank you.
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