Social Media, Technology Ways To Improve Asean's P To P

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) here on Tuesday underlined the importance of social media and internet technology to promote people to people contact in ASEAN.

"For the first time, and in contrast to just 4 decades ago, the world are facing a reality where the frequency and depth of contacts between our citizens - through cable television, Email, Twitter, Facebook - far exceed the formal contacts between Government officials. ASEAN too must respond this development. We must be creative and open-minded in harnessing the power of technology to promote people-to-people contact," said the president.

He said one of the greatest tasks of ASEAN nowadays lie in how to promote more people to people contact within this region in the spirit of creating a more people-centered ASEAN.

"We must make ASEAN matter to our people.  We must ensure that ASEAN improve the quality of our lives.  And equally important, we must strive to include our people in everything that ASEAN stands for and achieve," he said.

However the president reminded that advancing contacts between ASEAN citizens must also be managed in such a way that reduce complications and add benefits and opportunities. "This is because when millions of people engage across borders - as we have seen in bilateral contexts - there is bound to be issues and problems," he added.(*)