The ASEAN-China Media Forum hosted candid and constructive discussions with the theme of “Connected for a Better Future in the Digital Age”.

1. On ASEAN-China relations, participants have reiterated the commitments to follow the blueprint of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 and further promote a higher level of cooperation, including in media exchanges and people-to-people exchanges.
2. On the role of media, participants discussed how ASEAN and Chinese media could serve as messengers of exchanges, facilitators of cooperation, guardians of harmonious coexistence and good story-tellers on peace and common development in the region. Participants discussed how media should adjust to the new trend in the “digital age”, explore new ways to promote the connectivity of the region, strengthening the ASEAN identity and build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.
3. On the development of the new media, participants agreed that both ASEAN countries and China are witnessing a fast development and the growing influence of Internet media, social media, etc. AMS and China should work together to guide the development of the new media to stay alert of and combat against “fake news”, and promote mutual understanding among people in the region using new technologies.
4. On multilateralism and free trade, participants discussed how media can play a role in the joint efforts of AMS and China to uphold regionalism and multilateralism, support economic globalization and regional integration, oppose to unilateralism and protectionism, and promote the prosperity and development of the region.
5. On the exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, participants expressed commitment to further strengthen the cultural exchanges with each other discussed how media can promote mutual understanding among different cultures and civilizations in the region and opposed to the view of “clash of civilizations”.
   

Photo Credit to: ASEAN Secretariat.