Journalists Have Pivotal Role In Promoting ASEAN Integration - Laos Deputy Minister

From Nabilah Saleh VIENTIANE, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Laos Information, Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Savankhone Razmountry, has reminded ASEAN journalists to practice "high morality" in covering events on the traditions and cultures of the ASEAN people to avoid misunderstanding and conflicts. He said this was necessary as ASEAN journalists and media practitioners had a pivotal role in promoting the integration of the 10-member bloc and escalate people-to-people contacts. "In connecting people and bridging culture towards one ASEAN community, a greater awareness among ASEAN journalists is highly recommended to move the bloc towards its common goal," he said here Monday, in his opening remarks at a workshop for ASEAN Journalists on covering ASEAN's culture and traditions. Razmountry pointed out that journalists could also educate tourists amid ASEAN's efforts to foster sustainable growth, promoto eco-tourism and cultural tourism. "In this regard, journalists can play a role to inform tourists or visitors to protect the environment around the tourism sites as well as exercise social responsibility, so that we can reap the benefits of tourism whilst avoiding potential side effects," he said. He urged the journalists to utilise the workshop as a platform to share experiences as well as media ethics applied in the respective countries to further enhance awareness and respect of each other's country. Organised by the Laos National of the ASEAN Committee for Culture and Information (COCI), the workshop is aimed at sharing experiences and skills among ASEAN journalists on reporting cultural festivals, including the distinct cultures and customs of the respective countries. Representatives from all ASEAN member states, except Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines, are participating in the four-day workshop, which started Monday. Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) are representing Malaysia. On the final day of the workshop, the journalists are expected to discuss on the setting up of an ASEAN journalists' networking group to coordinate and facilitate the covering of news and feature stories. Apart from the workshop, the ASEAN journalists will also visit historical sites and participate in the annual 'That Luang' festival, the biggest and most important festival in Vientiane's That Luang Stupa (local temple). Laos will take over from Malaysia as ASEAN'S chair for 2016. At the just concluded 27th ASEAN's Summit and Related Summits, the 10 ASEAN leaders inked the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community. -- BERNAMA