The 16^th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) meeting and related senior officials' meetings are scheduled to take place in Da Nang from September 20 - 23, the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) told a press conference in the city on Monday.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, speaking at the press conference on Monday

Hosted by Viet Nam, the events will see nine other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participate, Timor-Leste as an observer, and three partner countries - Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China.

The meetings, themed “Media: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN”, will discuss orientations for the ASEAN cooperation in information and communications. They will also develop a cooperation mechanism for coping with fake news in the internet, the promotion of digital transformation in the press and communication sector, application of modern technologies to the sector, and the promotion of information provision across ASEAN and for the dialogue countries.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said that traditional forms of media in Viet Nam and ASEAN countries are facing strong competition from new ones which are completely changing people’s information-seeking habits, and these changes will lead to many economic challenges.

He, therefore, remarked that the meetings were an opportunity for participating countries to share their experience, propose initiatives, and reach consensus on a common action plan to respond to this issue. This is also an occasion to affirm the indispensable role of the mainstream media.

“ASEAN has many advantages as well as solidarity in a bloc and good practices that allow us to have the confidence to find solutions for the problem of digital transformation, information in cyberspace and business models. Facing such global issues, ASEAN needs to devise solutions to fake news and limit adverse impacts of new technologies in the information sector” Mr. Lam noted.

The 16^th AMRI meeting will be a forum for ministers of ASEAN countries to discuss orientations for enhancing regional cooperation in the fields of journalism, radio and television broadcasting, the internet, and the improvement of ASEAN awareness.

At the 7^th AMRI Plus Three meeting, ministers of ASEAN and the three dialogue countries will look into initiatives, priorities, and directions for boosting information cooperation.

Meanwhile, the 20 senior officials responsible for information (SOMRI) meeting, the SOMRI Plus Three meeting, and the SOMRI Plus Japan meeting will provide platforms for officials to discuss issues to be submitted to the AMRI and AMRI Plus Three meetings.

In addition, there will be the ASEAN Regional Forum on responding to and handling false information in cyberspace; and ASEAN conference on digital transformation of journalism - digital knowledge creation.

Activities on the sidelines will include bilateral meetings, an ASEAN-themed photo exhibition, a zone for experiencing films and photos of the bloc, booths of digital technology products, and cultural exchange activities.

Reporting by M.QUE, C.THANG - Translating by M.DUNG