AKP Siem Reap, July 21, 2025 -- Media professionals and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Siem Reap province today for a high-level workshop held as part of the 20th Asia Media Summit. The workshop focused on advancing “information diplomacy” as a strategic tool to counter disinformation in the digital era.

Titled “The Role of Information Diplomacy in Dispelling Disinformation,” the event was co-organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Information. It brought together regional broadcasters, journalists, editors, and government communication officials to share strategies for fostering ethical and resilient media.

Opening the event, Ms. Philomena Gnanapragasam, CEO of AIBD, underscored the urgency of regional collaboration in combating false information. “In an era where misinformation knows no borders, our response must be equally united,” she said.

H.E. Prak Thaveak Amida, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Information, delivered the official opening speech, reaffirming Cambodia’s dedication to ethical journalism and the responsible use of media. He called on participants to “embrace information diplomacy as a means of restoring public trust—especially at a time when disinformation spreads faster than the truth.”

Workshop sessions addressed ways to build public trust, uphold journalistic integrity, and enhance cross-border collaboration. Key themes included journalism’s role in sustaining democracy, promoting grassroots media literacy, and leveraging digital tools to detect and counter disinformation.

Insights from the workshop will directly feed into the upcoming Angkor Declaration 2.0 and a proposed regional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on media diplomacy, which is expected to be introduced by H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information of Cambodia.

The event concluded with a unified call for ethical, inclusive, and collaborative communication across the region to effectively tackle the growing threat of disinformation.

By Somany