Fostering two-way media connectivity

The ASEAN - China Media Cooperation Forum 2025, held from May 24–27 in Henan Province, China, brought together more than 200 delegates from national media agencies, research institutions, media technology firms, and government representatives from ASEAN countries and China.

Delegates at the ASEAN - China Media Cooperation Forum 2025. (Photo: Thuc Yen)

In an era marked by increasingly complex global information competition, the forum focused on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), co-production of content, and the development of digital media platforms.

A highlight of this year’s forum was the launch of the ASEAN - China Media Initiative, which sets out four major objectives: promoting two-way media connectivity; enhancing media training and exchanges; fostering cooperation in digital transformation and emerging technologies such as AI and big data; and building a regional network of partner media organizations.

Chinese delegates shared models that harmonize traditional values with modern technology in content development, while ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural identity and combating misinformation.

The forum also encouraged joint content production such as documentaries, bilingual television programs, regular ASEAN - China news bulletins, and the adoption of advanced technologies like 5G, 4K/8K broadcasting, and blockchain for copyright protection.

Vietnam reaffirms commitment to a technology-based, sustainable media community

The ASEAN - China Media Cooperation Forum 2025 served as an opportunity for Vietnam to reaffirm its commitment to building a media community grounded in cutting-edge technologies and enduring ethical values.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Phan Tam delivered a keynote address at the forum. (Photo: Thuc Yen)

At the plenary session on digital transformation and AI in journalism, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Phan Tam delivered a keynote address, highlighting the importance of applying AI in journalism responsibly, with a strong focus on professional ethics and public interest.

According to Deputy Minister Phan Tam, Vietnam has actively adopted AI in journalism—such as automated editing, public opinion trend analysis, and information verification—while maintaining a strict legal and ethical framework.

He also proposed three urgent reasons to enhance regional cooperation: the shared demand for media digitalization based on regional socio-cultural realities; the need to reduce technological and resource gaps among media outlets, particularly in supporting small and medium-sized newsrooms; and the importance of jointly addressing AI-related ethical and legal challenges through a common collaborative mechanism.