Sultan Received ASEAN and Dialogue Partner Country Media Ministers, Emphasizing Regional Understanding and Cooperation

(Bandar Seri Begawan, 9th) His Majesty the Sultan received a delegation yesterday comprising 13 ASEAN member country ministers, 10+3 dialogue partner country representatives, the Minister of Information from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and the Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. These delegations are currently in Brunei attending the 17th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) and the 8th AMRI+3 meeting.

The guests received by His Majesty included Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Maung Maung Ohn, Minister of Information of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand; Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes, Secretary of State for Social Communication of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; Zhang Nian Qiu, Deputy Minister of Communications of Malaysia; Le Hai Binh, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Michael Lim Ubac, Deputy Minister of Presidential Communications of the Republic of the Philippines; the Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Shan Luen; Sendaone Phommasane, Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Brunei Darussalam; Hong Yuan Pan, Deputy Secretary for Digital Economy & International Affairs, Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Singapore; Feifei Aleyda Yahya, Director-General of Public Communication and Media of the Ministry of Communications and Digital of Indonesia; Nomura Hideo, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau of the Global Strategy Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan; and Wang Gang, Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The theme of the 17th ASEAN Media & Broadcasting Conference is "Media Promoting Common Understanding": Redefining the Role of Media in Promoting Cooperation and Mutual Understanding. This theme focuses on strengthening cooperation and looking forward to the future of ASEAN media and broadcasting, ensuring that ASEAN media can work together to prepare and develop content that captures the attention of future audiences while strategically investing in the long-term transformation of the media landscape.

This meeting adopted the "Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Reaffirming ASEAN Members' Commitment to Advancing Media and Information Strategic Developments" and the "Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms" which will be submitted to the 47th ASEAN Summit for review by the leaders of each country. In addition, the ministers also adopted the "Joint Media Statement of the 17th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information Meeting and Related Meetings."

The ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information Meetings are important conferences under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community pillar, held every two years. Prior to the meeting, the Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI) was also held, including relevant meetings with China, Japan, and Korea (10+3 dialogue partner countries). Brunei will serve as the chair country for the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information Meetings and SOMRI from 2025 to 2026.