The press plays a major role in ASEAN's communication work.

On December 4, a roundtable discussion of ASEAN and East Asian editors on the ASEAN Community Vision after 2015 took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

ASEAN and East Asia journalists and editors pose for a photo with ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh. (Photo: Kim Dung-Chi Giap/Vietnam+).

The workshop attracted the participation of nearly 50 journalists, editors, researchers and experts in the region, including Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican stressed the importance of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 after the ASEAN Community is officially launched later this year.

The ASEAN Vision 2025 with the theme "Forward Together" was adopted by ASEAN leaders at the recent 27th ASEAN Summit, charting the development of ASEAN in the coming decade, reflecting the sincere aspirations of ASEAN member countries in continuing to strengthen and deepen community building and the regional integration process.

He expressed his belief that with the achievements the region has made, continuing to strengthen the community and regional integration will enhance ASEAN's capacity to respond promptly and effectively to emerging threats and challenges, contributing to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, while enhancing economic cooperation and enhancing ASEAN's central role in the regional structure.

This 4th ASEAN Editors Roundtable was divided into four main sessions, including presentations related to the ASEAN community vision after 2015, ASEAN identity, the role of the press in promoting moderation among ASEAN member states and East Asia, and a dialogue session with ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh.

In an interview with VNA reporters about the role of the press and media in promoting the building of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh said that at the recent 27th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders adopted the declaration on the establishment of the ASEAN Community and the Community will officially come into being on December 31, 2015.

ASEAN leaders also adopted the ASEAN Vision 2025, which sets out the direction for the process of continuing to build and strengthen the Community over the next 10 years. However, the understanding of ASEAN people about the Community that we are building on the basis of implementing the measures set out in the roadmap for building three Communities: the Political-Security Community, the Economic Community and the Socio-Cultural Community, as well as the understanding of the people about the Vision 2025 and the implementation process that requires the participation of the people with the guiding principle of building a Community that is people-oriented and people-centered, is still limited.

Recognizing the importance of communication work, ASEAN has identified one of the priority focuses in the next 10 years as enhancing people's understanding of the Community, the opportunities that the Community brings through the implementation of integration measures across all three pillars as well as the challenges that will arise in the coming decade in the process of continuing to build and strengthen the Community as well as how the Community is prepared to respond to current and future challenges.

Secretary General Le Luong Minh said that in 2014, based on the recognition of the importance of communication work, ASEAN adopted a very important plan, the ASEAN Communication Plan, and on December 31, ASEAN will also issue a special magazine about the Community that will be distributed in all 10 member countries with the same content.

In 2016, ASEAN plans to launch a 30-minute television program every week in all member countries, conveying information about the Community to the people. Thus, the press and media, with the ability to reach people at all levels of society in ASEAN, have a great responsibility and role in conveying to the people authentic messages about the Community, the opportunities the Community brings, the challenges facing the Community in the context of dynamic changes in the regional and international situation and the measures that ASEAN will take to respond to these challenges.

Secretary General Le Luong Minh affirmed that the media and press have a great role and responsibility in ASEAN's communication work./.

According to vietnamplus