Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks at the opening ceremony of the 16th Asia Media Summit in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, June 12, 2019. The 16th Asia Media Summit was held here on Wednesday, attracting approximately 600 media representatives from 42 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The 16th Asia Media Summit was held here on Wednesday, attracting approximately 600 media representatives from 42 countries and regions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the summit, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the country was greatly honored to host the summit to exchange views on present-day science and modern technology evolution for the strategy development in the information sector.

He said the use of digital technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0 encouraged media digitalization in the market to become more potential and to increase close cooperation to share information on media technology evolution and the fight against fake news and cyber-crimes.

He said fake news and cyber-crimes “are threatening and pose severe risks to individual’s right and security in the region as well as in the globe”.

The prime minister was confident that the conference would produce a fruitful discussion that would contribute to the development of science and information technology in the region and in the globe.

The two-day summit, held under the topic of Media Digitalization Focusing on Developing Markets, was organized by the Cambodian Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said.

“The Asia Media Summit is one of the leading international broadcasting events that gives the opportunity for broadcasters, media practitioners, industry leaders, academia, researchers, experts and media policy makers throughout the world to meet and discuss on how to develop media’s quality and to cope with challenges during the times of high technological revolution,” he said.

The minister said the summit was also a venue for other sideline meetings such as a ministerial meeting on media cooperation and a CEO meeting to discuss fake news.

Khan Sophirom, director of Overseas News Department at the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP), said traditional media like newspapers, magazines, radios and televisions are suffering a decline in readership and advertisement because more and more people have chosen to read news online via electronic devices, especially smartphones.

“To survive, traditional media in Cambodia should upgrade themselves by introducing websites and using other digital platforms to circulate their products,” he said. “And to keep their media entities growing steadily, they should give a particular focus on human resource development, innovation and creativity.”