ASEAN needs television to socialize its people-oriented concept
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As the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) moved one step closer towards people oriented concept, the bloc still needs further socialization among people.
ASEAN leaders at the 18th ASEAN Summit stated that the bloc does not only touch state issues such as politics, economy and security, but it has stepped in more social issues so that people feel to have the bloc.
However, it still needs further and bigger socialization as it is just not enough to bring the issue only days ahead of summits. It needs a continuous program. Television is the most powerful tool to socialize such program.
Therefore, the governments of ASEAN needs TV stations to air their programs as the media cover big number of population.
One of the most interesting ASEAN programs that were aired through TV is called the IKON in which the best music group of ASEAN had performed in a joint television program. The program was aired by TV stations of each ASEAN member states in 2007.
IKON is a continuation of an old program called the ASEAN Song Music Festival that was aired in 1991 for the last time.
A long time ago, in the 1990s, Indonesia and Malaysia had a joint program called Titian Muhibah or Bridge of Good Willing to bridge friendship between the two countries. It was a quite popular television program at that time.
ASEAN needs such program to bring closer people from one member state to the others. Indonesia's Minister for Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said that efforts to increase art and culture exchange between ASEAN member countries is a very good idea to tighten relationship between them.
However, once again, without good and effective publication, this would be just a concept. As Secretary General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan said, if people do not enjoy the journey of ASEAN, the community would not be solid.
He welcomed issues raised at the summit such as women and children, migrant workers, culture and football, among others.
"The summit was the first in Indonesia addressing building community and bringing ASEAN into global arena by touching people oriented issues, that very much brought ASEAN down to the people," said Pitsuwan.
He also said that the summit opened up route and space for youngsters to work, to learn and to share dreams with each other.
One issue that was raised in the summit was the intention of the bloc to jointly host FIFA's World Cup in 2030.
ASEAN's wish to host 2030 World Cup once surfaced at a special informal meeting on East Asia Summit in Bangkok in April this year.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said that ASEAN foreign ministers are eager to encourage public-oriented initiatives, including ASEAN's bid for World Cup in 2030.
That is also one good effort to bring ASEAN closer to people as football is the most popular sport in the bloc.
And, television would be very much involved in such event, bringing much publication, increasing the bloc's dignity and of course, money.
