Press conference to announce the results of the 16th ASEAN Information Ministers' Meeting, the 7th ASEAN+3 and specialized information conferences held in Da Nang, chaired by Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam.

This morning, September 23, in Da Nang, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a press conference to inform about the results of the 16th ASEAN Ministers on Information (AMRI), the 7th ASEAN+3 and specialized information conferences in Vietnam in 2023.

Through the “Danang Declaration”

Chairing the press conference, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that as the Chair of the 16th ASEAN Ministers of Information Meeting , the 16th AMRI was hosted by Vietnam in Da Nang from September 22 to September 23. With the theme “Communication: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Adaptive ASEAN”, the 16th AMRI achieved many remarkable results.

At the conference, the Ministers affirmed and positioned the role of the information industry in the new period, from 'information' to 'knowledge', information will become an active means for lifelong learning and raising awareness and digital literacy for ASEAN citizens.

“This is an inevitable trend of digital transformation, the influence of social networks and new media, and the development of artificial intelligence. The Ministers encouraged more dialogue and engagement between the media, communities and people, to promote more comprehensive information, calling for regional cooperation to build a healthy cyberspace environment through enhancing digital capacity, promoting the maximization of reliable information sources to build trust, orient public opinion, and enhance digital skills for ASEAN citizens, especially the younger generation and the elderly,” Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam emphasized.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam , ASEAN Ministers in charge of information have adopted new documents, recognizing the results and progress achieved in cooperation frameworks in the information field.

The Ministers adopted the AMRI Vision Statement “ASEAN 2035: Towards a Transformative, Adaptive, and Resilient Information and Communications Industry” to promote the achievement of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and support the implementation of the respective Blueprints across the three ASEAN pillars.

The Ministers emphasized addressing the challenges and leveraging the opportunities arising from rapid digital convergence and transformation beyond 2025, highlighting the transformative role of media in empowering individuals, communities and societies and shifting from passive consumption of information towards active acquisition of knowledge, and encouraged ASEAN Member States to consider developing a Master Plan on Digital Transformation for Journalism and Media.

In particular, the Ministers adopted the Da Nang Declaration on “Media: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN”, which recognized the pivotal role of the media in contributing to the goal of an informed citizenry, promoting knowledge acquisition as a driving force, to foster a resilient and responsive ASEAN Community, and at the same time, promoting ASEAN identity to foster social cohesion and deepen the sense of being part of the region, in order to respond to the changing media landscape due to digital transformation.

The meeting adopted the Plan of Action of the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News (PoA of TFFN), which is part of the ongoing efforts of the information industry to institutionalize a regional mechanism to address the rise of asymmetric threats including fake news, disinformation, hate speech, extremist views and extremism.

Many important contents were passed.

At the meeting, Ministers also adopted the Government Information Management Guidelines for Countering Fake News and Disinformation in the Media, which aims to provide a framework for how governments can respond to false or misleading information being disseminated in the media or on social media platforms; establish standards and good practices for government information officers; enhance accuracy and reliability, and improve transparency and accountability in government communications;

Improve coordination among government agencies, especially during times of crisis or emergency; and ensure that government information is transparent and accountable. Update and welcome the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN Communications and Information Strategic Plan (2016-2025) and support the development of a new Plan, to further contribute to the realization of the role of communications and information in promoting a resilient and responsive ASEAN, in line with the AMRI Vision Statement.

The Ministers approved the outcome reports from the three working groups under the ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) and appreciated the importance of the three working groups to further develop the information sector in the context of rapid digital transformation, as well as promote safe and secure cyberspace for all ASEAN citizens, especially vulnerable groups in society including the elderly, youth, children and persons with disabilities.

The meeting also updated and welcomed the progress of the ASEAN Communications Master Plan 2018-2025 (ACMP II) in promoting a community of opportunities for all. At the same time, it acknowledged and appreciated the activities/projects of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) focusing on capacity building for the information and communications sector (including the organization of the ASEAN Forum on Responding to and Handling Fake News on the Internet and the ASEAN Workshop on Digital Transformation of Journalism - Digital Knowledge Creation and other forums); raising awareness of ASEAN and promoting ASEAN Identity; supporting ASEAN's efforts to address human, social and sustainable development issues.

Regarding cooperation with dialogue countries, ASEAN Information Ministers thanked the initiatives of dialogue countries (including China, Japan, and South Korea) to promote cooperation with ASEAN in recent times as well as exchanged views, initiatives, and measures to enhance professional capacity building and technical knowledge with ASEAN+3 countries, ASEAN+China, ASEAN+Japan, and ASEAN+South Korea.

The meeting agreed to convene the 17th AMRI and related meetings in Brunei Darussalam in 2025 and thanked the host country Vietnam for its excellent organization of the 16th AMRI. The meetings took place in the spirit of ASEAN's traditional solidarity and friendship.

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