AMRI 16 Conference: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Adaptive ASEAN

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan took a souvenir photo with ASEAN+3 Ministers in charge of information at the opening ceremony.

VTV.vn - ASEAN Ministers in charge of information affirmed that information will be an active means for learning and raising awareness and digital literacy for ASEAN citizens.

The 16th ASEAN Ministers on Information Meeting (AMRI -16) was recently hosted by Vietnam in Da Nang, Vietnam from September 22 to 23, 2023 with the theme " Communication: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN ".

Sharing with the press about the results of the Conference, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that 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.

The Ministry of Information and Communications held a press conference to announce the main results of the 16th ASEAN Ministers on Information Meeting (AMRI 16) and the 7th ASEAN Ministers on Information Meeting + 3 (AMRI + 3). Photo: VNA

The ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information adopted new documents and noted the achievements and progress of cooperation frameworks in the information sector.

Accordingly, 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, emphasizing the transformative role of media in empowering individuals, communities and societies and shifting from passive consumption of information to active acquisition of knowledge, and encouraged ASEAN Member States to consider developing a Master Plan on Digital Transformation for Journalism and Media.

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

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

Through the Government Information Management Guidelines for Countering Disinformation and Misinformation in the Media to develop 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, improve transparency and accountability in government communications; improve coordination among government agencies, especially during times of crisis or emergency; and to ensure that government information is transparent and accountable

Ms. Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and delegates visit the exhibition of paintings of ASEAN countries. Photo: VNA

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and delegates visited VNPost's booth.

In addition, the Ministers updated and welcomed the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Information and Communications (2016-2025) and supported the development of a new Plan to further contribute to realizing the role of information and communications in promoting a resilient and adaptive 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 Ministers 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, acknowledge and appreciate the activities/projects of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) focusing on capacity building for the information and communications sector, including welcoming 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 - Creating Digital Knowledge along with 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.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam said that the Conference agreed to convene the 17th AMRI Conference and Related Conferences in Brunei Darussalam in 2025 and thanked the host country Vietnam for its thoughtful organization of AMRI 16. The Conferences took place in the spirit of solidarity and traditional friendship of ASEAN.

Within the framework of the Conference, Vietnamese media units also displayed exhibition booths to introduce new digital technology products to delegates.

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