Under the theme "Media Convergence for Shared Growth: Opening a New Chapter in the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," the 2026 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum was held on June 9 in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province.

Now in its ninth year, the forum aims to establish a strong rapport between China and ASEAN, invigorate international communication, and advance cross-border media collaboration.

President of China International Communications Group (CICG) Chang Bo delivered the opening address, noting that 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the 35th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. In this context, he called on media organizations from both sides to play a greater role in promoting mutual understanding.

"Media organizations from both sides should strengthen innovation-driven learning, expand practical cooperation, and uphold openness and collaboration," Chang said. He also expressed the hope that closer media cooperation would help develop a supportive public opinion environment for China-ASEAN collaboration, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and consolidate mutual friendship.

Nararya S. Soeprapto, deputy secretary-general of ASEAN, highlighted the growing role of media in the era of digital transformation. He said media organizations should go beyond the dissemination of information and serve as bridges for nurturing mutual trust, understanding and friendship.

During the main forum and roundtable dialogues, participants acknowledged that emerging technologies such as AI and big data are reshaping the media landscape. They called for deeper cooperation between Chinese and ASEAN media in the application of new technologies, as well as in technology ethics and governance.   See page 4

Two major initiatives were launched at the forum to translate discussions into tangible results. The "ASEAN-China Social Media Content Creators Programme" was inaugurated to support exceptional cross-border content creators in sharing regional stories through youth-oriented narratives. In addition, the "2026 ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Heritage Tour Series" was also announced, with plans to organize young people from both sides to foster cultural identity through immersive tours.

In an interview with Science and Technology Daily, Prak Thaveak Amida, undersecretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Information, reiterated that future media cooperation should focus on strengthening personnel exchanges and accelerating digital transformation in response to both the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. "We can work together, share the experience, share the knowledge, and exchange the best practices. Then we can improve skills [across the region]."

Looking ahead, Amida hoped that media organizations from China and ASEAN would work together to tell authentic development stories, dispel external biases and misinformation, and jointly shape a better future for the peoples of both sides.

Since its launch in 2018, the forum, co-hosted by the CICG and the ASEAN-China Centre, has served as an important platform to showcase China's development practices, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and promote pragmatic cooperation between China and ASEAN.