Press Release
The 14th Asia Media Summit (AMS), opened in Qingdao, China on the 6thof June, ended on the 8th of June. With the theme ‘Media on the Frontline of Global Development’, the Summit focused on the many important roles media play in promoting sustainable development besides presenting dialogues and debates on a series of hot topics. Most importantly the AMS passed the Qingdao Declaration on Media and the World’s Sustainable Development. Delegates to the Summit hailed it as a new starting point for efforts in promoting the world’s sustainable development, and further enhancing ties between media organisations in the Asia-Pacific region and those of the world.
China’s Vice Premier Madame Liu Yandong delivered the keynote address in the Inaugural Session, attended by more than 450 delegates including government leaders, executives and experts from media organisations in Asia-Pacific and the world. The summit also provided the platform for UN and UNESCO officials to deliver special messages from Deputy Secretary-General of UN Madame Amina J. Mohammed and Director-General of UNESCO Madame Irina Bokova.
The 14th Asia Media Summit (AMS), opened in Qingdao, China on the 6thof June, ended on the 8th of June. With the theme ‘Media on the Frontline of Global Development’, the Summit focused on the many important roles media play in promoting sustainable development besides presenting dialogues and debates on a series of hot topics. Most importantly the AMS passed the Qingdao Declaration on Media and the World’s Sustainable Development. Delegates to the Summit hailed it as a new starting point for efforts in promoting the world’s sustainable development, and further enhancing ties between media organisations in the Asia-Pacific region and those of the world.
China’s Vice Premier Madame Liu Yandong delivered the keynote address in the Inaugural Session, attended by more than 450 delegates including government leaders, executives and experts from media organisations in Asia-Pacific and the world. The summit also provided the platform for UN and UNESCO officials to deliver special messages from Deputy Secretary-General of UN Madame Amina J. Mohammed and Director-General of UNESCO Madame Irina Bokova.
The AMS 2017 also saw speeches from President of AIBD General Conference, Dr Abdolali Ali-Askari, who is also President of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and Vice Minister Tong Gang of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China.
Governor of Shandong Provincial People’s Government, Mr Gong Zheng also gave his welcoming remarks.
The finale of AMS 2017 was the Qingdao Declaration on Media and the World’s Sustainable Development passed by AMS delegates from more than 40 countries and regions. The Declaration mentions the pressing challenges facing our world, among them, poverty, conflict, socio-economic inequality, environmental degradation and climate change that begs for urgent and concerted action. This important document also strongly recommends that media, governments, UN Agencies and international non-profit organisations work in a concerted manner to promote development and progress of the world, and to shoulder responsibilities of sustainable development together.
The Declaration is a manifestation of the joint commitment and resolution of media of the Asia-Pacific to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and promote flourishing of media and sustainable development of the world. It most importantly stresses media’s role to ensure messages of sustainable development are heard and heeded in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world. It calls to optimise media resources, including the use of new media and social media, in acknowledging the importance of promoting a more sustainable future, and to work towards supporting the SDGs and publishing the outcomes of SDGs-based activities and programmes carried out by the relevant authorities, businesses and civil society.
The Summit was preceded by six pre-Summit workshops focusing on topics like Constructive Journalism, Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality, Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting, A Sound Future – Creating Engaging Content on all Platforms, Using Drones for Production, and Radio and Television Broadcasting, attended by about 130 participants from Asia-Pacific.
Among the highlights of the AMS was the World Television Awards 2017. Papua New Guinea’s Marcos Venditti from Emtek Multimedia bagged the award in the Humanity category with his winning entry Driving the Change.
EBS – Korea won in the Science and Environment Category for the Best TV Programme on Sustainable Energy for All. Director Chan Seok Heo’s winning entry was Earth, Our Only Planet – Rediscovery of Poo.
The Closing Ceremony saw the official declaration of host for the Asia Media Summit 2018 – Prasar Bharati of India. CEO of Prasar Bharati Mr Rajeev Singh gave an acceptance speech and presentation inviting all delegates to New Delhi, India for the AMS 2018 .