ASEAN+3 to expand regional media cooperation

VIENTIANE, Nov 6 (TNA) – A regional meeting of information ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its three dialogue partners on Friday assigned their senior officials to draw up a work plan on ASEAN+3 cooperation in information to promote better understanding and strengthen community building in the region.

In the first conference hailed as the “formal start of cooperation in the information sector” of the Ministers Responsible for Information in ASEAN (AMRI) and the Plus 3 countries-- China, Japan and the Republic of Korea--held in the capital of Lao PDR, the ministers discussed ways in which ASEAN and the Plus 3 countries could collaborate in the information sector, including in digital broadcasting, co-production in digital content and media exchanges, according to an official statement released on Friday.

Among proposals being suggested to foster media cooperation in the region, Mr Wang Chen, China’s Minister of State Council Information Office, offered to mobilised media resources, extend cooperation fields and improve the quality and level of cooperation as well as raising the level of information exchange and media cooperation.

Mr Akira Terasaki, Japan’s Vice Minister for Policy Coordination, offered to contribute to ASEAN member countries its experience in digitalizing TV and the circulation of good quality programmes.

The Japanese government, he said, has set target to complete transition from analog TV broadcasting to digital broadcasting by July, 24, 2011.

Realising the member states are at different stages of readiness for digital TV implementation, The ASEAN ministers agreed during their one-day meeting on Thursday that ASEAN adopts a phased approach towards analogue switch-off from 2015-2020.

Guidelines will be developed for digital switch-on as well as a common set of technical specifications for standard digital set-top boxes for ASEAN to help lower the price for regional consumers, the statement said.

They also agreed on the need for greater collaboration with ASEAN dialogue partners to promote ASEAN to the international community.

In an effort to diversify and intensify media cooperation in the region, Mr Kim Dae Ki, Republic of Korea’s Vice Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, proposed regional cooperation through joint international production of broadcast content, exchange programmes of journalists and joint translation and publication projects.

ASEAN regional grouping comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The 11th AMRI is tentatively scheduled to be held in Malaysia in 2011. (TNA)