Keynote Address by Her Excellency Ms Yingluck Shinawatra Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand at the 65th World Newspaper Congress, 20th World Editors Forum and 23rd World Advertising Forum Bangkok, June 4, 2013
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I must begin by apologizing for not being able to be here yesterday as I was still on an official trip abroad. I understand that the on-going meeting is vibrant and very fruitful, and I am looking forward to hearing from you the issues that are being discussed and how we could work together to further our common interests.
Second, I would like to thank the board of WAN-IFRA (World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers) for choosing Thailand as the host of this year’s meeting. I am delighted to see so many news and publishing professionals, editors and advertisers from around the world.
I welcome you all and I truly appreciate your confidence in Thailand. WAN-IFRA is an important and influential organization, so I am proud that Thailand has the opportunity to host this event.
Bangkok is a very lively city, so I hope that you will have time to see and experience the Thai way of life and hospitality.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is also an exciting time to be in this region of the world. If the Asia-Pacific Century is truly beginning, I can assure you that Asean is going to be one of the main engines of growth. With a combined population of 600 million with rising income and purchasing power, the potential for business growth in Asean is tremendous.
The ten member countries are working hard towards reducing barriers to trade and investment, and I am confident a single Asean Community will be achieved as planned in 2015.
We are also working to make connectivity a reality. There are many aspects that we can become connected, and I would like to mention a few.
First is the physical connectivity. Free flow of goods and services cannot happen without sufficient infrastructure. Since Asia, is a land and sea-based continent, connectivity means that we must be able travel and transport efficiently to all logistic hubs and new growth centers.
Thailand is planning to invest 66 billion dollars in infrastructure projects in rail and road links, with a comprehensive network of high speed trains and feeder dual track rails that would connect North-South and East-West neighboring countries.
Once completed, there will be high speed trains running through Thailand, Laos and into China. In time, it will also link South and Central Asia into Russia and Europe.
Sea ports and airports are being improved and new ones planned. The Dawei special economic zone and deep sea port which Thailand is working closely with Myannar, will open a new gateway to connect India and Sri Lanka and towards the Middle East and Africa. We will eventually connect the dots and make connectivity work.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The second connectivity is people to people. Asia is vast in cultural, political, and economic thinking and ways of life. Diversity can mean strength but it also can lead to conflict and confrontation.
We have to work hard to create a better understanding between the people, organizations, communities and societies. Education to enhance common grounds and cultural cooperation to build closer ties are important.
And this is what I believe you all in this room have a key role to play.
The role of the press and the media has never been more important. Publishers, journalists, editors and advertisers are the main channels to distribute information, knowledge, and news in various forms.
A free and responsible press helps keep the public informed and the well-informed citizen is at the heart of understanding each other's views.
There is a common saying, “put yourself in other people’s shoes”. In Thai, we also have a similar saying, which is “Auo jai kao ma sai jai rao” or “Bring their hearts into ours.”
I believe that deep down, humans are good at heart. So by being more understanding, it will not only help solve conflicts but it will also bring people closer together.
But freedom without responsibility can sometimes lead to confusion, misunderstanding and even turmoil. Freedom of the press is not unlimited, even in the advanced democracies.
There are always considerations given to public interest and order, rights to privacy and even national security. Moreover, we need to recognize that there are third parties willing to distort news and information for their own benefits.
So it is also important to have responsibility on the part of the press and media, based on high standards of professionalism and common sense. Like Buddhism that embraces the Middle Path, a balance needs to be struck between freedom of the press and media responsibility. For me, I believe that the press and media should find for themselves where this balance should be.
This issue has become more complicated with advances in technology and the opening of new frontiers for media in cyberspace. Print media has made greater use of cyberspace. But this is a channel where there is great potential for both good and misuse. Incorrect information and misleading news can reach a larger number of people much more quickly.
And when damage is done, it is almost impossible to reverse the effects. So what we need is the close cooperation of the editors to ensure that the news and information in the internet reflects this balance between press freedom and press responsibility for the good of the public.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, I believe the news and publishing industries stand at an exciting time. There is growing recognition of your vital role in promoting democracies, economic and social development as well as understanding between the peoples of all nations. You have at your disposal new technologies that allow you to function more effectively and to reach a wider audience.
I wish you all every success during these times of change. In the meantime, I hope you find time to go out and enjoy our Thai hospitality.
Thank you.