On the morning of September 22, the opening ceremony of the 16th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Information (AMRI) took place in Da Nang. Attending the meeting were Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, along with Ministers and Heads of Delegations of ASEAN member countries; dialogue countries (China, Japan, South Korea) and observer country Timor Leste.

In his opening speech as the host country, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications of Vietnam, said that this year's Conference has unanimously chosen the theme: "Media: From information to knowledge for a Resilient and Adaptive ASEAN" . The Information Ministers of AMRI-16 proudly declared the new mission of media is to create knowledge and understanding from information, thereby empowering people, helping them to be confident, master their destiny and be happy.

According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, in a volatile and unpredictable world like today, too much information can also cause confusion, insecurity, doubt, and loss of trust. The media now needs to bring new knowledge to help us adapt quickly, to use new technology for development and cooperation goals, to bring positive energy, and to nurture faith in a peaceful and prosperous future for ASEAN and the world...

To respond quickly to change, we must quickly find new knowledge from change. To be able to withstand and recover from a major collision or disaster, we must be equipped with new knowledge. Therefore, our information and communication sector must transform from simply providing information and news to providing knowledge and understanding to people to help them survive in a volatile, unpredictable, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

“Humans are increasingly creating more powerful technologies. But the destructive power of technology is as great as its power to develop. Therefore, the ethical aspect of technology, the responsible use of technology, as well as the social responsibility of media platforms, need to be emphasized more than ever. And this is also the responsibility of the ASEAN information and communication sector,” Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized.

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, our information and communication sector is undergoing revolutionary changes. Digital technology has created this destructive change. The future is no longer an extension of the past. And we must create our new future based on digital technology. The way of doing things and approaches must be innovative, but we must still maintain the core mission of communication: providing information, raising awareness, disseminating knowledge, empowering people, serving development, enhancing understanding and solidarity among peoples, ASEAN member countries and promoting the image and values ​​of ASEAN to the world...

xVice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan speaks at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Information (AMRI-16). Photo by Ngo Anh Van.

Speaking at the Conference, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said that since joining ASEAN (in 1995, with the motto "active, proactive and responsible", Vietnam has made many important contributions, helping to maintain solidarity, unity and strengthen the central role of the Association.

Participating in the common development process, Vietnam also pays special attention to the information and communication sector.

On April 6, 2023, the Prime Minister of Vietnam approved the Strategy for Digital Transformation of Journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030, aiming to build a professional, humane, and modern press agency through the application of advanced technology in journalism activities, developing digital platforms, and enriching the digital journalism ecosystem with new and superior features, helping to improve the quality and efficiency of communication, and strengthen Vietnam's connection with the international community.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan visits the ASEAN photo exhibition. Photo by Ngo Anh Van.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said that the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in charge of Information is an important forum for member countries and other countries to dialogue, exchange and identify priorities and directions for cooperation in the coming time, joining hands to successfully implement the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the priorities of the ASEAN Community.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan believes that the Ministers and delegates will have effective working days in this beautiful coastal city; share and make valuable recommendations to the ASEAN Summit; agree on specific action programs to continue affirming and further promoting the important role of the information sector in the ASEAN development process; turning information into knowledge for the people, as the theme of this year's Conference has proposed.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, shared: For the steadfastness in guiding cooperation in the field of information and communications through the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic. And as the ASEAN region emerges from the pandemic, the information and communications sector plays an important and cross-cutting role in promoting the ASEAN Community Vision. The fruitful discussions of SOMRI yesterday and the Ministerial discussions today and tomorrow on the theme of Communications: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN will add momentum to regional cooperation and strategic directions towards social, sustainable and inclusive development.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Ekkaphab Phanthavong speaks at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Information (AMRI-16). Photo by Ngo Anh Van

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Ekkaphab Phanthavong believes that this important meeting will help us continue our efforts towards building ASEAN into a Community of Opportunities for All…

Prior to the ASEAN Information Ministers Meeting, based on Vietnam’s initiative, ASEAN countries organized two forums to promote cooperation in digital transformation of journalism and fight against fake news. ASEAN media agencies shared good practices in digital transformation and will jointly develop guidelines on digital transformation in the ASEAN journalism sector; sharing knowledge on how to fight fake news is becoming increasingly important, helping to strengthen trust in the digital space.

ASEAN countries consider this a priority in their information cooperation plan, and this year's Information Ministers' Meeting also focused on discussions to enhance the effectiveness of coordination among countries in this field.

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