2025 ASEAN-China Media Forum Held in Luoyang to Strengthen Regional Media Cooperation through AI

On 25 May 2025, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with China International Communications Group (CICG), hosted the 2025 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forumin in Luoyang City ,Central China's Henan Province.

As part of the China–ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the forum held under the theme “Harnessing the Power of AI to Enhance Communication Cooperation in the Region”, has brought together around 150 attendees including diplomatic envoys and media professionals from all 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS), representatives of ASEAN Youth Organization and relevant government agencies and media professionals from China.

Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre; Kem Gunawadh, Secretary of State,Ministry of Information of Cambodia ; Phan Tam, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam; San Lwin Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN (through video-link);  Du Zhanyuan President of CICG; Guo Weimin, President of the China Public Relations Association; Jiang Ling, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial People’s Congress and Secretary of the Luoyang Municipal Committee of the CPC attended and addressed the audience.

In his opening remarks, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun stated that the ASEAN-China relations has become the most dynamic and fruitful cooperation model in the region, benefiting over two billion people. "In this time of global uncertainty and instability, the need for ASEAN and China to respond with regional solidarity becomes even more pressing and crucial, " he said, " with media playing the key role to promote mutual trust and understanding among the peoples."  

Shi Zhongjun stressed that media plays a key role in consolidating regional solidarity. Artificial intelligence is transforming the global media ecosystem with both immense opportunities and complex challenges. He highlighted the challenges with the rapid spread of fake news from the age of AI, and the principle of AI as a global public good, media ethics and social responsibilities. "There are opportunities for ASEAN and China to cooperate in digital infrastructure connectivity, capacity building and AI governance." he said.

In his speech, Kem Gunawadh, Secretary of State,Ministry of Information of Cambodia, noted that the spread of fake news is one of the most urgent problems of our time. It erodes public trust, distorts democratic processes, and undermines social harmony. In our increasingly connected world, a single piece of false information can travel across borders in seconds, leaving real damage in its wake.

Kem Gunawadh pointed out that AI can enhance the media's capabilities in news gathering, analysis and information distribution, help verify facts and identify false information, but it must ensure that its use is ethical and moral to avoid the spread of prejudice due to the abuse of artificial intelligence. Cambodia encourages the formulation of common ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in the media between ASEAN and Chinese partners, and supports capacity building projects to train journalists, editors and regulators on how to effectively use artificial intelligence technology while ensuring accuracy, privacy and transparency.

Kem Gunawadh believes that the media colleagues attending the forum are not only neighbors but also partners who share the responsibility of maintaining regional peace, ensuring smooth information, and enhancing resilience when facing new challenges. "In this spirit, " he said, "Cambodia fully supports the strengthening of media cooperation between ASEAN Member States and China."

Phan Tam, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, said that the news industry faces fierce competition from social media and the spread of false information. Therefore, the efficient and responsible application of artificial intelligence by mainstream media is a necessary means to maintain media credibility, improve content quality and social guidance. He believes that the application of AI in news cannot be a "one-size-fits-all" approach, but should serve sustainable development and social information stability. Regional cooperation has positive significance for promoting the sharing of tool AI solutions, data and training programs. He also emphasized the importance of establishing an ethical framework, code of conduct and verification mechanism based on artificial intelligence to create a safe, transparent and socially beneficial media ecosystem.

Media representatives from AMS and China exchanged perspectives and shared their practices under the topics of “Cooperation to Combat Fake News and Disinformation” and “Responsible Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” They underlined the importance of media ethics, digital literacy and collective actions in the combat of fake news and disinformation as well as the media ethics and responsibilities in the application of AI technologies in today's digital era.

Lim Cheytoath, Deputy Chief, Cabinet of the Minister and Advisor of Ministry of Information of Cambodia participated in the panel discussion. He reiterated the stance of the Ministry of Information of Cambodia, stressing that we must ensure that the use of artificial intelligence is ethical and responsible. Lim Cheytoath listed the measures taken by the Ministry of Information of Cambodia to combat fake news, including formulating relevant policies and principles, ensuring information security, strengthening media literacy and public awareness, and training journalists, editors and regulators. In addition, he analyzed the benefits and negativities of artificial intelligence in media, emphasizing that AI is a double-edged sword and the media should use and regulate it properly.

The participants agreed that although AI technology empowers industries, it also gives rise to risks such as false information, algorithmic bias, and data dependence. The media in China and ASEAN countries should strengthen media responsibility, adhere to journalistic ethics, use technology to improve the quality of news, and jointly build a strong line of defense against false information, so as to gather powerful media power to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the era of artificial intelligence.

At this forum, the ACC and CICG jointly launched the “Joint Initiative on Promoting ASEAN-China Media Ecosystem Governance through the Application of Artificial Intelligence Technologies” and “Plan on ASEAN-China New Media Exchange Programme”.