From Sharifah Hunaini Syed Ismail
KUNMING (CHINA), Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Media organisations and even national governments within the ASEAN+3 framework should strengthen collaboration and work together to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), which brings immense benefits but also significant risks.
Sin Chew Daily editor-in-chief Chan Aun Kuang said that AI holds tremendous potential, and ASEAN countries, along with China, Japan, and South Korea, could adopt the principle of “brothers climbing a mountain, each striving their best” to maximise benefits for their respective nations.
“However, journalists in these countries should be cautious as AI-generated fake news becomes increasingly prevalent in the media; it has become a new-era challenge requiring collective efforts and cooperation among nations to tackle,” he said during a dialogue session at the 11th ASEAN+3 (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum, today.
The “Foster New Growth Drivers and Share New Development Opportunities” dialogue session was the first agenda under the forum, which gathered over 100 participants from the 10 ASEAN countries, as well as Japan, South Korea and China.
During the forum, themed “Increase Inter-connectivity for Common Development and Shared Benefits”, Chan also shared recent incidents in Malaysia involving AI-generated deepfake pornographic videos used to blackmail at least 10 members of Parliament and state legislators.
He emphasised that when such advanced technology falls into the hands of criminal groups, everyone — from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens — could become potential victims.
Other panellists included Myanmar Narrative Think Tank chair and chairman of Yangon Media Group, Ko Ko; The Manila Times columnist Anna Uy; and Daily News (Thailand) reporter Darunee Teerapappong.
The discussion was moderated by the managing director of China’s Global Times (English Edition), Liu Yang.
Meanwhile, Uy opined that there are several promising growth drivers under the ASEAN+3 framework, including the digital economy and e-commerce, green and sustainable development, and food security and agri-tech, among others.
She said the ASEAN+3 can help ASEAN avoid overdependence on extra-regional markets.
“By deepening regional value chains that link China’s manufacturing power, Japan’s and Korea’s advanced technology and ASEAN’s resources and labour force, we create a more balanced and resilient architecture,” she said.
Uy also highlighted that beyond goods and capital, cultural and tourism flows remain an underestimated growth driver.
“Nevertheless, I have cautious optimism that China-ASEAN cooperation is no longer just about trade volumes. It’s about co-creating the future of the regional economy. We can align inclusivity, sustainability, and digital transformation within the ASEAN+3.
“In that case, this partnership can serve as a model for South-South cooperation and for a multipolar global economy that works for developing nations,” she added.
The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road commenced yesterday, bringing together over 200 representatives from 87 countries, international and regional organisations, and 165 media outlets and institutions globally.
The event, held in Kunming, in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, was jointly hosted by People’s Daily, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province.
-- BERNAMA
