ASEAN information ministers meet<\/p>\n
HANOI (AFP): Information ministers from the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations launched two days of talks here Thursday
\namid efforts to forge a common IT policy despite huge differences
\namong member states.<\/p>\n
ASEAN secretary general Rodolfo Severino said the organization
\nwas keen to help poorer members develop their information
\ntechnology industries.<\/p>\n
But he acknowledged some were loath to abandon the tight
\ncontrols they have traditionally maintained over information
\ndespite the mounting pace of technological change.<\/p>\n
"We will try to help those countries that are behind in terms
\nof expertise so they will not get further behind," he said.
\n"But it's up to each country ... we can't force anyone."<\/p>\n
Host nation Vietnam is among those ASEAN members which have
\nsought to retain a tight control over information, even as they
\nhave developed new software parks in a bid to attract investment
\nfrom IT firms.<\/p>\n
The authorities here continue to operate firewalls on the
\nInternet which block access to websites they find objectionable,
\nsuch as those of the emigre opposition.<\/p>\n
"Information and the right to access to information have
\nbecome an urgent need for all nations," Vietnam's Deputy Prime
\nMinister Nguyen Manh Cam told delegates in his opening address.<\/p>\n
But he added that this should not come at the expense of
\neither "national sovereignty" or the "will of the people."
\n"We need to join efforts to seek effective solutions for
\nconcerted management under a mutually agreed order that conforms
\nto the will of our peoples and to the respect for national
\nsovereignty," he said.<\/p>\n
At a meeting in Thailand last week, ASEAN economic ministers
\nagreed a framework agreement for development of the Internet as
\npart of the organization's efforts to keep pace with its northern
\nneighbors as China moves towards World Trade Organization
\nmembership.<\/p>\n
The agreement, which is due to be signed in Singapore next
\nmonth, sets out a common policy framework for the Internet as
\nwell as measures to strengthen infrastructure and human
\nresources, Severino said.<\/p>\n
The information ministers were also due to discuss measures to
\nimprove ASEAN's image amid mounting criticism of its
\nineffectiveness in the face of the continuing crisis in Myanmar.<\/p>\n
The meeting would "approve important projects to enhance
\nASEAN's image .... and encourage the role of ASEAN as an
\nincreasingly influential regional grouping in the Asia-Pacific
\nregion and the world," Cam said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-information-ministers-meet-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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