BAKU, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The first media forum of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, with discussions on the role of media in fostering mutual trust and ways to strengthen media cooperation among CICA member states.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an address to the forum that the world is going through a complicated period characterized by rapidly changing geopolitical realities, growing security challenges and profound transformations in the media landscape.
The media should be seen as an important instrument of public diplomacy, mutual understanding and regional cooperation, he said.
CICA Secretary-General Kairat Sarybay said that fostering constructive and factual dialogue has become a global priority, adding that deeper cooperation among CICA member states should be accompanied by closer ties among media professionals in those countries.
Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy Salkyn Sarnogoeva said during a panel session of the forum that strengthening trust across Asia is a shared responsibility of CICA member states.
She stressed that in an era of disinformation and information warfare, government institutions, professional journalists, bloggers and opinion leaders should join forces to create high-quality content that promotes unity, share experiences and maintain regular professional engagement.
The forum was organized by the CICA Chairmanship of Azerbaijan with the support of the CICA Secretariat under the theme "Building Trust through Media in a Polarized World."
The CICA, which unites 28 states covering more than 90 percent of the territory of Asia, is a multinational forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in the region.
