12th Conference of ASEAN Information Ministers 2014

From 9th to 12th June 2014, I together with a few senior officers from the Prime Minister's Office, the Radio Television Department and the Information Department attended the 12th AMRI and its related meetings. The full report of the meeting is as follows:

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PRESS RELEASE

12TH CONFERENCE OF THE ASEAN MINISTERS
RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMATION (AMRI)
Theme: ‘Social Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous Community’

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 12 June 2014

Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab bin Juned, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Brunei Darussalam and delegation, today attended the 12th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) at the Myanmar International Conference Centre II, Nay Pyi Taw, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Dato Wahab, Pehin Rahmani and Haji Rozan led the Brunei Delegation in AMRI 2014 in Myanmar

The Conference was officially opened by His Excellency Dr. Sai Mauk Kham, Vice President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. After the opening ceremony, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab attended the AMRI Plenary Session and made his remarks in which he highlighted that the meeting is very significant as it serves as another milestone event for ASEAN in promoting one community by 2015, with the theme ‘Social Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN Community’.

He also said it is timely for media sectors in ASEAN to enhance the collaboration - not only for 2015 but also beyond - as the grouping's future will depend on the upcoming young generation's trust, confidence and responsibility. Media and better access to information must articulate the benefits of regional integration and cooperation towards community building. As ASEAN community-building continues, the media in ASEAN must also be able to manage the expectations of the people in the region regarding the outcome of economic integration and future implications to mitigate unfounded fears and concerns surrounding a single community. la of AMRI have made their own initiatives in promoting ASEAN on specific areas such as culture, tourism and trade promotion. However, additional initiative by the implementing agencies can play an additional or complementary role in promoting ASEAN’s profile. With a comprehensive, reliable information of the sectoral developments reported by the media and other mechanism such as joint television and radio productions, as well as the continuous promotions by the agencies with the help of ASEAN Secretariat, in the long run, will together provide better understanding and cooperation and hence increase the people-to-people contact in the region. This will hopefully contribute to the community building effort by 2015 and beyond.
He further mentioned that the much progress is made by ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Cooperation initiative and three specialist working groups under ASEAN Digitial Broadcasting (ADB) have been very effective in developing blueprint to assist all Member States in their transition towards digital broadcasting. 

The ASEAN Ministers and Representatives noted the steady progress of information and media cooperation and appreciate the need to implement a comprehensive communications plan to meet the vision of One ASEAN Community by 2015, the Ministers called for coordination and effective communication among the different sectoral bodies in implementation of the ASCC Blueprint, optimising opportunities for cross-sectoral cooperation to inform the public about the benefit of ASEAN’s integration and community building.

The meeting also acknowledged the steady progress and outcomes of key projects aiming to increase ASEAN awareness and mutual understanding through the ASEAN information and media cooperation process, such as the television and radio news exchanges (ASEAN Television News and ASEAN-in-Action respectively), and the ASEAN Quiz (regional and national levels) and new initiatives such as the ASEAN Virtual Learning Resources Centre (AVLRC). They also noted the need to implement a comprehensive communications plan to meet the vision of One ASEAN Community by 2015 and in the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint. 

In the area of technical standards, the meeting welcomed initiatives which were identified to benefit leapfrogging to Digital Video Broadcasting–Terrestrial Second Generation (DVB-T2), and noted regional efforts in the implementation of the 'Guidelines for ASEAN Digital Switch-Over' (2015 – 2020); and further endorsed a recommendation on the development of an ASEAN-wide DVB-T2 Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD) specification to reap the benefits of economies of scale for affordable DVB-T2 IRDs in ASEAN Member States who already adopted DVB-T2 for DTTB. The Ministers also commended the completion of the first-ever TV co-production programme of Colours of ASEAN-pilot programme with the theme, Rice-Seed of Life, in High Definition.

The meeting approved the new Senior Official Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI) Terms of Reference and the setting up of three Working Groups, namely ASEAN Digital Broadcasting (ADB), Working Group on Information, Media, and Training; and Working Group on Content and Production, to strengthen the information and media cooperation in ASEAN.

At the Conference, the AMS members agreed to adopt the Declaration on Social Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous Community. The Declaration is a guiding document to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of information and media through undertaking programmes and joint activities, and by leveraging on all forms of media.

They also exchanged views on the progress of ASEAN Plus Three cooperation and possible measures to further enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries (the People’s Republic of China; Japan and the Republic of Korea) in the field of information and media which include local content production and human resources development.

In concluding the meeting, the ASEAN Ministers and Representatives agreed to convene the 13th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (13th AMRI) and its related meetings with Dialogue Partners in the Philippines in the 1st Quarter of 2016.

Also present at the event are His Excellency Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Abdu’r Rahmani bin Dato Paduka Haji Basir, Ambassdor Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of the Union of Maynamar; Awang Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, Permanent Secretary (Media and Cabinet) in the Prime Minister’s Office; and Senior Officers from the Prime Minister’s Office; Radio Television Brunei; Information Department; and the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Prime Minister’s Office
Bandar Seri Begawan
Negara Brunei Darussalam
12 June 2014
14 Syaaban 1435

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