Bangkok hosts Asia Media Summit 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012 18:22

More than 700 representatives from political, media and scholarlycircles in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, Northern America and the MiddleEast have attended the two-day Asia Media Summit 2012 in Bangkok.

Addressing the opening session on May 29, UnderSecretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of theEconomic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Noeleen Heyzercalled on Asia-Pacific media agencies to use all skills and resourcesto further promote sustainable development, the biggest challenge of theregion, to ensure more people benefit from development.

Heyzer said Asia-Pacific media agencies should become activelyinvolved in and raise journalists’ capacity in disseminating informationon sustainable development.

At present, theAsia-Pacific region lags behind in implementing 10 out of 22 indicatorsof the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he said, emphasising theimportant role of media agencies in pushing for MDGs implementation andchallenges overcoming to narrow the development gap among countries inthe region.

Director of Asia-Pacific of the UnitedNations Millennium Programme Minar Pimple said during the final processof implementing MDGs, regional mass media should play an active role inurging their governments to turn commitments into specific activities aswell as take part in development programmes following MDGs and publicpolicy programmes.

UNESCO General Director IrinaBokova highlighted the media’s role in society, politics and economics,saying that the press is upholding its important role in globalsustainable development.-VNA

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