BERNAMA, XINHUA TO CO-HOST INAUGURAL ASEAN-CHINA MEDIA AND THINK TANK FORUM

By Norsyafawati Ab Wahab

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) -- The inaugural ASEAN-China Media and Think Tank Forum will take place here this Friday, bringing together 200 government officials, influential media leaders and experts from across the region and China to strengthen ties and foster deeper engagement. 

Jointly organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and Xinhua News Agency under the theme “Strengthening ASEAN-China Cooperation” the one-day event aims to facilitate in-depth discussions on a wide range of topics important to the ASEAN and the world at large.

Key topics include “Promoting Civilisational Exchange, Setting an Example for the Global South,” “Boosting Maritime Silk Road Cooperation, Charting a New Course for Peaceful Development,” and “Harnessing the AI Revolution, Seizing Unprecedented Opportunities.”

Bernama’s Chief Executive Officer, Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to co-host the forum with Xinhua.

"On behalf of Bernama, I am honoured to accept Xinhua's invitation to jointly organise this one-day forum, which is also being held in conjunction with the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Malaysia next week," she said.

"I see this as part of the effort to expand collaborative networks with Xinhua, as outlined in the renewal of the bilateral agreement between both agencies at the end of 2023," she added.

Bernama and Xinhua began cooperating in news exchanges with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on Dec 14, 1985.

On Dec 18, 2023, they renewed their agreement in Kuala Lumpur, further solidifying their decades-long cooperation that goes beyond news exchanges. 

This event marks the first time both agencies collaborated to host an international media programme.

Nur-ul Afida said the forum will provide an opportunity for Malaysian and Chinese media companies and agencies, as well as think tanks from both countries and across ASEAN, to exchange views and proposals through their respective presentations.

“(Through this forum) ASEAN member states can also engage in more detailed discussions with their strategic partners from China,” she said.

She added that the timing of the forum is particularly significant, as Malaysia is chairing ASEAN this year and currently also serves as the country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations for the 2024 - 2027 period.

The forum will feature discussion sessions and a networking dinner in the evening.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is scheduled to open the forum.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, and Secretary-General of the Communications Ministry Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa will also be attending. 

Xinhua News Agency Editor-in-Chief Lyu Yansong and senior officials from the agency are expected to attend the event.

Among the speakers taking part in the sessions are Bernama’s Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Deputy Director of the Xinhua Institute of Xinhua News Agency Zhu Zhibin, Executive Director of the Indonesia China Partnership Studies Veronika S. Saraswati, Deputy Director General of the Lao News Agency Sivanxay Siphankham, and Vice Chairman of the Myanmar Press Council Khin Maung Zaw.

Nur-ul Afida said that in addition to strengthening diplomatic relations between ASEAN countries and China, the forum will also serve as a platform for regional and Chinese media to share best practices and new technologies in the media industry.

“This includes areas such as artificial intelligence in media, data analytics, and automation in news production.

“Furthermore, the media can also discuss efforts to enhance information transparency and combat the spread of fake news in the region,” she said, expressing hope that the forum will yield positive outcomes for all parties involved.

-- BERNAMA