Opening of the 13th ASEAN Information Subcommittee Meeting

The 13th ASEAN Subcommittee on Information (SCI 13) officially opened on the morning of June 12 in Da Nang city. This is a specialized cooperation conference in the field of information between ASEAN member countries and is held annually on a rotational basis.

The main participants of the 13th SCI Conference are senior officials in charge of information from 10 ASEAN countries, central radio and television stations, press agencies, and major media agencies of ASEAN countries.

Illustration photo. (Source: Internet)

In particular, implementing the direction of the 2nd ASEAN Ministers on Information Meeting + 3 (AMRI + 3) in Malaysia on March 1, 2012, for the first time, the ASEAN Information Subcommittee Meeting invited the three dialogue countries, including China, Japan and South Korea, to send officials of the same level to attend.

The conference took place on June 12 and 13 with two main meetings: the plenary session of the 13th ASEAN Information Subcommittee Meeting and the first meeting of the ASEAN Information Subcommittee with the +3 countries (SCI+3).

At the plenary session, the conference will hear announcements on decisions of ASEAN senior leaders related to the information field, including the 20th ASEAN Summit, the 7th ASEAN Senior Officials' Committee Meeting in the ASEAN socio-cultural pillar, the 11th ASEAN Ministers' Meeting on Information... and discuss how to implement the above directives.

Delegates will also hear reports updating the progress of implementing the Action Plan and Communications Plan of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

Delegates will discuss and agree on plans to implement projects in 2012 and 2013, notably activities related to the roadmap for digital television technology conversion in ASEAN countries until 2020, exchange of radio and television news among 10 ASEAN countries, activities of radio and television producers, projects to encourage the participation of the young generation, the ASEAN Knowledge Contest, and exchange of journalism students in ASEAN.

With the goal of information being an important field to raise awareness about ASEAN, deep understanding between ASEAN countries about culture, history, religion, economy... creating motivation to develop a common ASEAN community, the ASEAN Information Subcommittee has been implementing many synchronous and effective projects in 10 ASEAN countries.

At the meeting with the +3 countries, ASEAN countries and the three dialogue countries will jointly update the commitments of ASEAN leaders with the +3 countries and discuss detailed plans and projects to implement the commitments in this field to further strengthen relations between ASEAN and the +3 countries through information and communication.

Speaking at the opening session, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Do Quy Doan said that since becoming an ASEAN member in 1995, Vietnam has actively and proactively participated in ASEAN's common cooperation activities and has made many important contributions to the Association's overall development.

In addition to modernizing the domestic information and communication infrastructure to serve the public's increasing need for information through mass media such as newspapers, radio, television and the Internet, Vietnam is increasingly integrating more deeply into the region in the information field with radio and television programs broadcast on ASEAN television channels.

Vietnam also actively participates in the region's joint efforts in promoting cultural and information exchange activities among ASEAN member countries to help enhance understanding, solidarity, cooperation and friendship, towards the goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015.

In addition, Vietnam is also actively preparing for the establishment of a National Information Coordination Board on ASEAN and the development of a National Communication Plan to synchronously deploy national communication work in all three pillars of political security, economics and socio-culture.../.

According to VNA-M