Mrs. Sudruetai Lertkasem, Director-General of Thailand’s Public Relations Department (PRD), in her capacity as President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference, delivered the opening remarks at the 21st Asia Media Summit (AMS 2026) in the Maldives, highlighting the vision of trustworthy media in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

The AMS 2026, which is being held from 11 to 14 May 2026, under the theme “Maldives 2.0 – From Tradition to Tech,” brings together ministers, media executives, and policymakers from across the region.

In her remarks, the PRD Director-General stressed the need for the media to remain trustworthy even in the AI era, when tools become more advanced. She stated that the theme for this year’s Asia Media Summit serves as a roadmap for the region’s shared future — the transition from traditional foundations to a technology-driven era. While tools and platforms continue to evolve, she pointed out that the core mission of journalism to serve the public interest remains unchanged.

In times of conflict and humanitarian crises, she said, accurate reporting becomes a source of hope for the public. As President of the AIBD General Conference, Mrs. Sudruetai reaffirmed her commitment to transforming regional cooperation into tangible outcomes for AIBD members.

On the sidelines of the summit, the PRD Director-General held discussions with media leaders from various countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, including the secretaries-general of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The discussions focused on exchanging views and exploring opportunities for media collaboration to strengthen people-to-people connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia. She also reaffirmed her commitment to serving all AIBD members by helping build a media industry that is adaptive, inclusive, and responsive to the changing global landscape — ensuring that no member is left behind.

The Asia Media Summit is AIBD’s flagship annual gathering, providing a platform where members are able to exchange ideas and best practices to strengthen the regional media industry. PRD has also sent its personnel to participate in professional training programs, while senior executives joined key panel discussions on the future of media. The knowledge and partnerships gained from this summit will be applied to further enhance Thailand’s government communication strategies.

Currently, AIBD comprises 87 member organizations from 42 countries. Thailand’s leadership role through the PRD Director-General’s position, as President of the AIBD General Conference, further strengthens the country’s contribution to advancing media development, public communication, and information cooperation at the regional level.