ASEAN+3 ready to become ‘Voice of Asia’

VIENTIANE, Nov 7 (TNA) -- The 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its three dialogue partners have agreed to become a ‘Voice of Asia’ with the objective of informing the world on subjects of their interest and cooperation, according to Satit Wonghnongtaey, Thailand’s minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Expressing his satisfaction with the four-day 10th conference of the Ministers Responsible for Information in ASEAN (AMRI) and the Plus 3 countries -- China, Japan and South Korea -- Friday in the Lao capital of Vientiane, Mr. Satit said Thailand’s official Public Relations Department and MCOT Pcl. may join together with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the National Telecommunication Commission of Thailand in a seminar on digital television systems.

ASEAN’s digital television system will offer varied information, and use frequencies in a more valuable way and reach rural people more effectively, he said.

Mr. Satit said ASEAN and its three dialogue partners had agreed during the conference, ending Saturday, to become the ‘Voice of Asia’ aiming to inform the world on critical subjects including worldwide climate change and negative issues which may also affect the 2orld
so that help could be offered.
He said ASEAN members agreed that the digital TV system should be functional by 2015.

The decision was reached after Japan which began its digital TV service in 2003 targeted July 2011 to complete the transition from analog to digital recommended that ASEAN should adopt the digital system to catch up with global technology.

The 11th AMRI is scheduled to be held in Malaysia in 2011. (TNA)