Media play a key role to better convey ASEAN story to the people
WVR - The AMF provides a platform for ASEAN to convey key messages on the region's goals, achievements and challenges to media leaders.
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| Delegates at the 7th ASEAN Media Forum (AMF) kicked off at the ASEAN Secretariat’s headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 31. (Photo: ASEAN Secretariat) |
On its seventh edition, this year’s ASEAN Media Forum (AMF) underlined the important role of media in ASEAN regional integration, amid the accomplishments of Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023 themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.”
In his welcome remarks, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn underscored the prominent role of media in enhancing awareness, promoting understanding and correcting misperceptions of ASEAN’s integration agenda within and beyond ASEAN. “As ASEAN moves towards greater cohesion and integration, a well-informed and engaged people is an asset to the region,” said Dr Kao.
Dr Kao affirmed that the ASEAN Secretariat always considers the AMF as one of the leading events that gathering famous media leaders and editors-in-chief of major English newspapers in ASEAN, policymakers, officials, key members of ASEAN, and academics and business leaders.
The AMF provides a platform for ASEAN to convey key messages on the region's goals, achievements and challenges to media leaders, while promoting discussion of pertinent regional and global issues.
He stressed that this forum helps enhance media editors' understanding of how ASEAN works and how the media can play a key role to better convey the ASEAN story to the people.
In the process of building a community, ASEAN continues to make multi-dimensional efforts to promote connections among ethnic groups in the bloc, he said, noting that this is a crucial factor for the success of the regional integration process.
Ambassador of Germany to ASEAN Ina Lepel, in her welcome statement, highlighted the valuable role of AMF in promoting exchange of views between ASEAN and the public. “The AMF has evolved and became the most critical stage to inform regional media outlets on the ASEAN story which needs to be told,” she acknowledged.
Addressing the event, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed the AMF helps all participants gain deeper insight into the future of ASEAN community building.
Scholars and officials from ASEAN countries and regional media focused their discussion on a number of topics, including Timor Leste’s accession to ASEAN.
