Mr Vansy Kuamua welcomes delegates to the meeting.

Laos hosts ASEAN meeting to strengthen regional media cooperation

Laos is hosting the 27th Meeting of the ASEAN-COCI Sub-Committee on Information (27th SCI) in Vientiane from September 28-29, bringing together representatives from ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat to strengthen regional cooperation in information and media.
The meeting is chaired by Head of ASEAN-COCI Sub-committee for Laos and Deputy Director General of Lao National Television, Ms Malayvieng Vongchandy and is reviewing cooperation in the information sector while discussing future initiatives and the direction of ASEAN media cooperation.
Opening the meeting on Monday, Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Head of the Commission for Information and Education of the Central Committee, Mr Vansy Kuamua, welcomed the participating delegates.
He underlined the important role of the ASEAN-COCI Sub-Committee on Information in strengthening communication among ASEAN member states, promoting mutual understanding and contributing to the development of a shared ASEAN identity.
Ms Malayvieng highlighted the need for stronger regional collaboration in the information and media sector, particularly as digital technologies continue to transform the media landscape.
“In an era of rapid digital transformation, the Sub-Committee on Information serves as a vital platform for ASEAN Member States to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen our collective voice, and address emerging challenges like disinformation and synthetic media,” she said.
She added that constructive dialogue and practical cooperation would contribute to building a more informed, connected and resilient ASEAN Community.
The meeting is supporting implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan for Information and Media 2026-2035, with discussions focusing on regional media cooperation, digital and media literacy, and emerging challenges facing the information sector.
According to the agenda, delegates will receive updates on cooperation progress in the information and media sector.
They will also review project proposals and initiatives with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, namely China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Norway.
The meeting will consider progress reports on projects funded by the ASEAN Cultural Fund for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, as well as new project proposals for 2027.
Delegates will also discuss preparations for the ASEAN Multistakeholder Symposium on Mitigating Disinformation and Managing Synthetic Media in the Digital Era, which is scheduled to take place on November 4-5 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The meeting discussed arrangements for the 28th SCI Meeting, which will be hosted by Malaysia in 2027.
The ASEAN-COCI Sub-Committee on Information provides a regional platform for member states to exchange views and coordinate cooperation on information and media issues, with its work contributing to broader ASEAN efforts to strengthen regional connectivity and mutual understanding.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 29, 2026)