New Initiative Proposed at 2017 China-ASEAN Member States Information Ministerial Meeting | China-ASEAN

By Wang Hai

With the aim of deepening the China-ASEAN strategic partnership of peace and prosperity and boosting media exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, the China-ASEAN Member States Information Ministerial Meeting was held on 22 November 2017 in Suzhou, China.

Information ministers or their representatives from China and ASEAN member States including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, as well as other representatives from Chinese government departments attended the meeting earlier today.

To further enhance media exchanges and cooperation, participants proposed cooperation initiative in following priority areas:

1, Encourage news and media authorities to enhance communication and mutual visits while sharing experiences and views on politics, regulations and development strategies in the field of news and media;

2, Actively promote exchanges and cooperation among media outlets in various forms, including but not limited to: programme exchange, information sharing, film co-production, joint news coverage and personnel exchange;

3, Encourage media organizations to actively cover the economic, political, cultural, social and ecological accomplishments achieved by China and ASEAN Member States, so as to increase mutual understanding and friendship among the people;

4, Enhance exchanges and cooperation in the area of press, publication, broadcasting, film, television and new media;

5, Encourage media associations to help push forward media cooperation by increasing contacts and communication;

6, Facilitate journalists’ access to interviewees on important occations and provide training opportunities for media professionals;

7, Boost people-to-people exchanges, advocate dialogue among Asian civilizations and encourage think tanks to carry out discussions on issues of common concern including political stability, economy, society and culture;

8, Promote the establishment of a Belt and Road media cooperation aliliance and the building of a platform for media exchanges, with the aim to facilitate information sharing and in-depth cooperation among media organizations.