Media Convergence for Shared Growth -The 2026 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum Successfully Held in Shenyang

On 9 June 2026, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with China International Communications Group (CICG), hosted the 2026 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum themed “Media Convergence for Shared Growth: Opening A New Chapter in ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. PresidentChang Bo of CICG, Liu Huiyan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People’s Congress, Khammone Chanthachith, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party(LPRP) and Deputy Head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Committee, Undersecretary of State Prak Thaveak Amida of Ministry of Information of Cambodia, Deputy Secretary-General Nararya S. Soeprapto of ASEAN, representative of the ACC attended and addressed the audience. Representatives from government and international organizations, media, and enterprises of China and ASEAN Member States (AMS), and diplomats from AMS in Beijing with a total of 150 guests attended the Forum.

In his opening remarks, Chang Bopointed out that standing at a new historic juncture, media practitioners of China and ASEAN must uphold openness and collaboration, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and boost coordinated innovation. Joint efforts should be made to advance integrated development of regional digital economy and cultural engagement, so as to deliver substantial new contributions to elevating the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Liu Huiyan stressed that, with its advantages of geographic location, complete industrial layout and profound cultural heritage, Liaoning is ready to enhance its role as a pivotal exchange window and pragmatic collaborationplatform for ASEAN-China media cooperation which in turn will act as a powerful new engine driving win-win development between Liaoning and AMS.

Khammone Chanthachith highlighted the steady growth of ASEAN-China media cooperation as the foundation of trust among peoples. Media from both sides should keep focusing on joint content creation, human resource capacity building, and experience sharing so as to continue being the key driving force in promoting regional sustainable cooperation for a shared prosperous future.

Prak Thaveak Amida noted that both sides should further cooperate to enhance the integrity and authenticity of information dissemination, strengthen pragmatic collaboration in fact-checking and related fields, jointly carry out inclusive capacity-building for the digital age, and actively advance people-centered constructive narratives.

Nararya stated that the forum fully demonstrates the prominent role of media cooperation as a core pillar of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He called on both sides to work together to ensure media exchanges for a solid bond deepening friendship and mutual understanding, and facilitate the building of an even closer ASEAN-China community.

Director Napasorn Bhuvaborirak of the Information and Public Relations Division of the ACC stressed that the global information landscape is undergoing profound transformations. Media from both sides should seize the opportunities presented by digital development, actively utilize new technologies, deepen content creation and platform co-construction, tighten the bond of people-to-people exchanges and promote mutual understanding.

During keynote speeches and roundtable dialogues, Chinese and AMS media and enterprise representatives shared insights from their professional practice, and held in-depth discussions on two major topics: "Social Responsibility and the Media’s Mission in Our Times" and "Innovative Practice and Diverse Development in the Digital Age".

At opening ceremony, the ACC and CICG jointly launched two initiatives: the “ASEAN-China Social Media Content Creators Programme” and the “2026 ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Heritage Tour Series”, which aims to enrich bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges through diverse platforms.

Parallel events held alongside the Forum included the ASEAN-China Media Professionals Capacity Building Training Program, ASEAN-China Media Dialogue, and Liaoning Province intangible cultural heritage exhibition.

During their stay in Liaoning, participants were invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 Liaoning International Friendship Cities Conference, and met with leaders of Liaoning Province and CICG. The delegation also conducted field inspections of municipal governance, people’s livelihood, sci-tech and cultural tourism projects in Shenyang and Dalian, engaging in thorough talks on deepening pragmatic cooperation across multiple sectors.