AKP Phnom Penh, October 2, 2026 --

Media organisations must serve as vital instruments for social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and combatting misinformation in an increasingly polarised world, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information stated Thursday at the First Media Forum of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Delivering Cambodia’s speech titled “Reflections on the Role of the Media in Strengthening Social Cohesion and Intercultural Dialogue,” H.E. Prak Thaveak Amida, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Information, commended the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting the inaugural event under the central theme, “Building Trust through Media in a Polarised World.”

Addressing the forum’s core inquiry into how journalism can foster mutual respect among diverse populations, H.E. Prak Thaveak Amida emphasised that social cohesion depends on access to reliable information, fair community representation, and constructive dialogue free from prejudice. Drawing on Cambodia’s role within ASEAN, he underscored the value of "unity in diversity," noting that responsible reporting shapes how neighbouring societies perceive one another across Asia's complex cultural landscape.

To harness media as a force for unity, the speech outlined three core principles:

Fair and Accurate Representation: Coverage of culture, identity, and belief systems must incorporate primary voices and context, preventing isolated incidents from defining entire communities.

Everyday Intercultural Dialogue: Media outlets should highlight real-world cooperation across schools, workplaces, and local communities, leveraging cross-border joint content production to allow audiences to experience other societies directly.

Constructive Public Discourse: Responsible journalism provides a grounded, fact-checked arena for debate, ensuring sensitive or emotionally charged issues are examined with respect rather than emotional polarisation.

The address also placed urgent focus on emerging digital technologies. While social media and artificial intelligence have expanded opportunities for cross-cultural communication, they have simultaneously lowered the barrier for spreading manipulated content that deepens public distrust. To address these risks, Cambodia highlighted its national media literacy initiatives, notably the “Say No to Fake News” campaign, which equips citizens with a practical verification habit before sharing content: check the source, check the evidence, and check the context.

Closing his address, H.E. Prak Thaveak Amida reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to collaborating closely with CICA member states on joint media production, verification standards, and ethical technology adoption to advance regional peace, mutual trust, and peaceful coexistence.

By P. T. Amida