ASEAN info ministers underscore need to accelerate awareness on ‘One ASEAN Community’, its benefits

WELCOMING ASEAN DELEGATES. Premier Christy Clark meets with a delegation of high-ranking government officials representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reaffirm British Columbia’s commitment to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. The meeting came during a full day of events to promote the province’s competitive advantages as part of the ASEAN Economic Ministers Roadshow to Canada. Photo from the Province of British Columbia / Flickr

MANILA — The Information Ministers of the 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) underscored the need to accelerate the efforts to communicate ASEAN and its benefits as the envisioned “One ASEAN Community” by the year 2015 comes to a close.

During the 12th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on June 12, the Ministers signed the Declaration on Socially Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous Community to affirm their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in information and media programs and activities to bring about a heightened awareness and deeper understanding of ASEAN.

The Ministers also noted the initiatives that have already been undertaken by the Member States in support of ASEAN awareness and community building, including television and radio news exchanges and the ASEAN Quiz.

They also welcomed the initiatives towards the adoption of digital broadcasting by the Member States.

They likewise highlighted the need to maximize the use of all forms of media, from the traditional and mainstream to the new or social media, to inform the widest public possible of the benefits of ASEAN integration.

The Ministers further resolved to enjoin the engagement of various sectors, including ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, in making ASEAN a truly one community.

Among the future cooperation areas cited were joint production projects, media networking, and human resources development.

A Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (SOMRI) and meetings with dialogue partners China, Japan, and Korea were also held with the AMRI Conference.

The Philippines will host the next AMRI Conference in March 2016.