Shi Zhongjun: Three Stories on ASEAN-China Relations to be Told

On 21 June 2024, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with China International Communications Group (CICG), hosted the 2024 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum themed “Amity and Innovation Matter for a Shared Future” in Dezhou City of Shandong Province. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, Vice Minister Phosy Keomanivong of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR, Undersecretary of State Has Sam Ath of the Ministry of Information of Cambodia, Ambassador Jamie A. FlorCruz of the Philippines to China, Deputy Secretary-General Ekkaphab Phanthavong of ASEAN (through video-link), President Du Zhanyuan of CICG, Vice Chairman Wang Yihua of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People's Congress attended and addressed the audience, and more than 150 attendees including diplomatic envoys from ASEAN Member States (AMS) in China, representatives from relevant government agencies and media from ASEAN and China were present. 

SG Shi Zhongjun emphasized that the thriving ASEAN-China relations have entered its second decade of building a closer community with a shared future. Both ASEAN and China belong to the Global South, offering mutual development opportunities and immense cooperation potential. Media from ASEAN and China should strive to serve as the messengers of friendly exchanges, facilitators of pragmatic cooperation and guardians of harmonious coexistence, telling the stories of friendship, cooperation, and development between both sides. Media should bring into fully play the role as bridges and windows, focusing on the great process of seeking development and prosperity contributing to common interests shared by both ASEAN and China, in such fields as green development, digital economy, smart governance, poverty alleviation and reduction. Playing a better role and assuming greater responsibility in promoting mutual understanding among the peoples and enabling innovative development, media from ASEAN and China should contribute more to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between both sides and enriching the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Guests from both AMS and China expressed their views on ASEAN-China media cooperation. Phosy stressed, as serving as the ASEAN Chair in 2024, Lao PDR would like to work closely with all AMS and its dialogue partners countries including China, to strengthen people-to-people ties, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and jointly promote regional connectivity and prosperity. Has Sam Ath emphasized the indispensable role of media in shaping public opinion, influencing government policies, and promoting cross-cultural exchanges in the digital age. Cambodia will continue to promote media cooperation and development with China, exploring new modes of friendly exchanges. Jamie outlined that ASEAN-China media cooperation has enhanced mutual trust and spread positive energy for friendly cooperation, and in the future, media should make better use of digital technology, strengthen information sharing and avoid misinformation and fake news, so as to create positive and favorable public opinion atmosphere for deepening cooperation between ASEAN and China. In his video message, DSG Ekkaphab highlighted that media from ASEAN and China should further strengthen cooperation in shaping the regional narrative and promoting deeper mutual trust and exchanges among the peoples.

Du Zhanyuan stated that media from China and ASEAN should continuously enhance the breadth of exchanges, depth of cooperation, and heat of dissemination, unite the strength of the people, strengthen technological empowerment and expand cooperation channels, so as to solidify the cultural foundation of ASEAN-China friendship. Wang Yihua said Shandong has always been open to all countries including ASEAN, and welcomes media to visit Shandong more often to chalk up new chapters of friendship and cooperation. 

During keynote speech session, the persons-in-charge of Global Services of Xinhua News Agency and Jakarta Post shared their thoughts on the role of the media in promoting exchanges and mutual understanding between ASEAN and China, especially on how to tell the stories of development in an objective and truthful manner and disseminate the news with an open and objective attitude. In parallel sessions, nearly 20 media representatives from ASEAN and China exchanged their views focusing on the topics of “Media's Responsibility in Enhancing People-to-people Ties” and “Media's Role in Innovative Empowerment” in a warm and friendly atmosphere. 

During the forum, as the co-hosts, the ACC and CICG jointly launched the “Initiative on Jointly Promoting ASEAN-China Media People-to-people Exchanges and Cooperation”, calling on both sides to strengthen cooperation in building heart-to-heart bridges together, promoting growth of ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership together, cultivating younger generations to advance friendship together, bolstering sci-tech empowerment in ASEAN-China media cooperation and building and ASEAN-China media cooperation network, so as to better utilize the role of media in promoting the development of ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.