The fifth ASEAN Media Forum, hosted virtually by the ASEAN Secretariat on August 13, continued to focus on the bloc’s goals, achievements and challenges to leading editors and media influencers within the region.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi reaffirmed their priority and plan to step up efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic to guard the lives and livelihoods of individuals within the region. He stressed that while the media has turn out to be an integral a part of the event of societies, reliable communication channels that inform, educate and empower persons are increasingly necessary.
“ASEAN will also benefit from your insights as they will be a voice of integrity and a bridge between our vast and diverse communities to ensure a sustainable and resilient future,” he said.
During the opening session, participating ASEAN senior editors shared their experiences of the constraints they face of their reporting work as a result of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was followed by a panel discussion on “The Importance of Multilateralism in a Diverse ASEAN.”
The panel included former ASEAN Secretary General, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, who’s currently Deputy Executive Chairman of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore; Moe Thuzar, fellow and co-coordinator of the Myanmar Studies Program on the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; and Dr Chang-Yau Hoon, Director of the Center for Advanced Research on the University of Brunei Darussalam.
The highlight of the forum was an exclusive conversation during which media leaders had the chance to listen to insights and exchange views with ASEAN Secretary General and former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
It was stressed that ASEAN should proceed to strengthen its convening power in addition to its thought leadership to reveal its centrality. It can also be extremely necessary for ASEAN to uphold and promote its principle of resolving disputes through peaceful settlement.
The event was held due to the support of the German federal government through the Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
