On 25 August 2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal, Mrs. Sudruetai Lertkasem, Director-General of Thailand’s Government 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 24th AIBD General Conference under the theme “AIBD Towards 50 Years of Media Excellence.” The conference brought together media executives and representatives from member countries across the Asia-Pacific region. 

The opening ceremony was attended by the Hon. Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Nepal’s Minister for Information and Communications; Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; Mr. Arjun Giri, President of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal; and Ms. Philomena Gnanapragasam, AIBD Secretary-General, as well as AIBD executives and representatives from member countries.

The PRD Director-General stated that AI is rapidly transforming the world of communication, creating new opportunities for producing and sharing information, while also bringing challenges related to accuracy, ethics, and accountability, particularly with AI-generated content. Building media credibility and maintaining public trust are, therefore, more important than ever. She stressed that media excellence cannot be measured by technology alone, but must also be reflected in credibility, professionalism, ethics, and a commitment to serving the public interest.

These views were echoed by media leaders and representatives of regional organizations at the conference, who highlighted the importance of tackling misinformation, strengthening fact-checking, and maintaining professional standards amid the rapid growth of AI and digital platforms. They also emphasized that international cooperation and knowledge sharing will be essential in helping media organizations adapt while maintaining public trust. 

During the conference, members reviewed AIBD’s work over the past year and discussed its direction towards its 50th anniversary in 2027. Key priorities include strengthening media professionals’ skills in AI, emerging technologies, and digital transformation, alongside promoting public-interest media, disaster and climate change communication, gender equality, and the sustainability of media organizations.

AIBD also aims to translate cooperation between member countries into tangible outcomes by encouraging members to host training programmes and share knowledge, resources, and expertise. Members were also invited to propose and jointly organize activities marking AIBD’s 50th anniversary, with the Asia Media Summit 2027 in the Republic of Korea set to be one of the key events for strengthening regional media networks and cooperation. 

The 24th AIBD General Conference, therefore, serves both as an opportunity to reflect on AIBD’s journey of nearly five decades and to shape the future direction of Asia-Pacific media, with trust, public interest, and cooperation at the heart of AIBD’s path towards its 50th year.