Media Plays Pivotal Role To Foster Mutual Understanding Among ASEAN Youth...

From Harlina Samson in Koh Kong Province (Cambodia)

Media outlets, be they traditional or new media, have a pivotal role to rightfully play their part in fostering deeper mutual understanding among youth of the different nationalities of ASEAN, said Cambodian Ministry of Information Undersecretary of State Ouk Kimseng.

As establishing people-to-people ties could be one of the most challenging tasks of any news and information organisation, the media, he said could help open doors to connectivity and have a better understanding of cultures, history and the social patterns of the people outside of one's realm.

Ouk Kimseng

"Highlighting the living real live intricacies, which otherwise will only be heard off and not seen, the media, both print and broadcast can support youth-initiated platforms and activities, which promote and strengthen people-to-people connectivity as well as trans-national tourism," he said.

Addressing 30 participants of the ASEAN Plus Three Workshop on Roles of Media/TVs in Strengthening People-to-People Connectivity and Promotion of Tourism at a resort here, he said the media have a powerful influence in reshaping the mindset of people.

During the five-day workshop, the participants, who arrived in Phnom Penh, some 290km from here, Sunday, were also taken for visits to several tourism spots including a boat trip in the province.

As globalisation brought with it the advent of communication and information technology, Kimseng said the well-connected world today has made every individual to have an easy and quick access to variety of information sources.

"This is where, media, both in print and broadcast form, play a critical role in shaping perception of the masses including youth," he said.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Secretary of State, Luy David in his opening remarks said that the workshop was aimed at implementing two of the East Asia Vision Group II selected recommendations, submitted to the 2012 ASEAN Plus Three Leaders Summit in Phnom Penh.

As Cambodia is the lead-country to implement the recommendation of strengthening people-to-people connectivity and promotion of tourism, he said the workshop should serve as a platform to share views on how media plays its critical role in creating and shaping public opinion of society.

"With today's fast growing users of Internet and social media, the role of media and TV is increasingly important to the daily lives of millions of people in the region," he added.

ASEAN is a regional grouping comprising 10-member countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam, while the Plus Three partners are China, Japan and South Korea.

-- BERNAMA