Yunnan: From Kunming, Mr. Prak Thao Amida, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said that telling the national story well is part of the joint effort to build a fair, balanced and modern international relations order.
The Undersecretary of State made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the South and Southeast Asian Media Network and Cultural Exchange Event under the theme “Looking Southward through the Perspective of Cities” held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, on July 14, 2026.
Speaking on the theme “What is a good story and how do we tell our national story well?”
Mr. Prak Thawamida said that in the era of digital transformation, the advancement of artificial intelligence, and the vibrant international information space, “good stories” are not just stories that attract attention or spread quickly on social media. On the contrary, good stories must be truthful, responsible, meaningful, based on verified information and reflecting the real lives, values and aspirations of the people.
He added that for the Lancang-Mekong countries and the South and Southeast Asian communities, telling the national story well It is part of a collective effort to build a more just, balanced and modern international order.
He pointed out that many developing countries are often presented through an external perspective that does not fully reflect the history, achievements, values and aspirations of their people.
Therefore, the media has an important role to play, not only in reporting events, but also in providing context, preserving cultural memory, promoting mutual understanding, and bringing the true voice of the people to the region and the world.
For Cambodia, the Undersecretary of State said that the important national story is one of peace, tolerance, and development. It is the story of a country that has overcome difficulties, protected its valuable cultural heritage, and moved forward through reform, modernization, and constructive international cooperation.
At the same time, he emphasized the important role of Cambodian youth, especially journalists, content creators, and digital innovators who are using new platforms. To promote truth, creativity, dialogue and social responsibility.
Mr. Prak Thavamida said that to tell the national story well, each country must continue to strengthen the journalism profession, invest in human resources and embrace digital innovation with responsibility and integrity. Journalists, media professionals, and digital content creators must be skilled at fact-checking information, countering fake news and misinformation, using reliable facts, using ethical technology, and producing content that is accurate, engaging, relevant, and accessible to audiences across languages, cultures, and platforms.
On behalf of the Ministry of Information of Cambodia, Mr. Prak Thao Amida affirmed Cambodia’s readiness to work closely with South and Southeast Asian media outlets, Yunnan Province, and regional partners to translate shared values into practical cooperation through training, content exchange, joint story production, digital capacity building, and strengthening professional networks.
He expressed his belief that experience, knowledge, The good practices and ideas exchanged at this annual meeting will contribute meaningfully to strengthening the region’s collective voice. Through ethical journalism and closer cooperation, the media can become a bridge of trust that transforms development into public understanding, culture into friendship, and cooperation into lasting peace and shared prosperity for the people of the region.
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