BANGKOK, Thailand – Director-General of Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department (PRD) Sudruetai Lertkasem has urged modern media to move beyond being mere messengers and become true “storytellers.” She emphasized that media should unite diverse voices to foster social harmony based on human dignity and resilience. To achieve this, cross-border cooperation and content co-production will be vital for building regional understanding.
Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Media Forum 2026 in Shenzhen, China, on 5 September, the PRD Director-General delivered a keynote address titled “Stories of Mutual Learning Among Civilizations.” She highlighted that a prosperous Asia-Pacific community relies not only on economic and infrastructure connectivity, but also on mutual understanding and cross-cultural awareness. In this regard, the media plays a pivotal role in connecting people and fostering trust among nations.
Sha also called on media leaders to jointly create narratives that connect people, elevate the presentation of credible information, and transform differences into shared strengths, thereby leveraging the power of media to educate, create wisdom, and drive the Asia-Pacific region toward sustainable prosperity.
The forum was organized by Xinhua News Agency and its partners under the theme “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.” Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng presided over the opening ceremony, and Xinhua News Agency Executive Vice President Xi Yanchun delivered welcoming remarks. The event was attended by over 300 media leaders, executives, academics, and delegates from more than 20 countries, including APEC member economies. The PRD Director-General stated that Thailand was ready to support the APEC “China Year” pillars of openness, innovation, cooperation, and sustainable development. Thailand is also preparing to host the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in this October. (PRD)
