Media 'can help to defuse' conflicts

Geopolitical tensions in Asia could be defused or prevented partly by increased content-sharing among the continent's media outlets, thereby achieving a better understanding of countries' different positions, media industry leaders said.

This was among the views that emerged as about 30 editors from Asian media outlets gathered in Beijing on Monday for the two-day annual board meeting of the Asia News Network. The meeting is being held the same week as China Daily's 35th anniversary, which falls on Wednesday.

The editors will also join a discussion on Tuesday, with Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The two-day ANN conference includes discussions of the media situation in Asia, a review of the organization's achievements in the past year and talks on possible expansion.

Zhu Ling, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said he appreciated the spirit of cooperation and sharing among leading Asian media in recent years.

"Let us do more," Zhu, also acting chairman of the ANN for 2015-16, said at the opening of the meeting.

Warren Fernandez, editor of The Straits Times of Singapore, said geopolitical issues always catch the media's attention.

"I think the most important thing we can do is to write about it, to explain what's going on, to help our people understand the perspective one country has on an issue."

Members of the ANN are mostly English-language Asian media outlets.

Ravindra Kumar, editor of The Statesman, said that when geopolitical or political concerns arise, ANN members' countries might be exposed to opposite stances. "The role the ANN could play is to put the other country's views across to the readers."

Suthichai Yoon, chief adviser of Nation Multimedia Group of Thailand, said, "With an open and frank exchange of views, and analysis from all the aspects, we get a better understanding. And, hopefully, we can prevent tensions."

Li Xiang, Peng Yining and Yan Dongjie contributed to this story.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/31/2016 page1)