A New Chapter in ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The 2026 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum, held in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, was organized under the theme “Media Convergence for Shared Growth: Opening A New Chapter in ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” The forum brought together stakeholders from government, media, international organizations, and industry players from ASEAN member states and China to discuss the future of media collaboration in the digital era.

As economic ties between Indonesia and China continue to deepen, communication has become one of the key foundations determining the success of cooperation between the two countries. The growth of investment, trade, tourism, technology, and cultural exchange requires narratives that are more accurate, balanced, and capable of fostering mutual understanding.

During the forum, discussions highlighted the importance of content collaboration, media capacity building, the utilization of digital technology, and the creation of people-oriented narratives. The forum also launched the ASEAN-China Social Media Content Creators Programme and the 2026 ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Heritage Tour Series, both aimed at strengthening people-to-people relations through digital platforms and cultural exchange.

Among the participants from Indonesia was Helda Chandra, Head of 8 Vice and Managing Partner of Gentala Institute, who has been actively driving the strengthening of Indonesia–China relations through communication, cultural, business, and people-to-people exchange approaches.

Amid rapid technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also emerging as one of the key factors shaping the future of media and communication cooperation between ASEAN, including Indonesia, and China. AI is not only transforming the way content is produced and distributed, but also opening new opportunities to accelerate cross-language information exchange, broaden access to knowledge, and enhance intercultural understanding through increasingly intelligent and inclusive technology.

For Indonesia and China, the use of AI can serve as a catalyst for strengthening people-to-people connectivity. AI technology enables real-time language translation, more accurate analysis of public trends and sentiment, cross-border content personalization, and the development of digital collaboration platforms capable of bringing together young people, business actors, academics, and creators from both countries. With a responsible and human-centered approach, AI has the potential to become a new bridge that accelerates mutual understanding, trust, and closer cooperation between Indonesia and China.

According to Helda Chandra, the relationship between Indonesia and China is built not only through trade and investment, but also through communication capable of fostering deeper mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations.

“In the digital era, content has the power to build trust, introduce culture, and open wider opportunities for collaboration. Now, with the emergence of AI, we have the opportunity to accelerate the exchange of knowledge, reduce language barriers, and create a more inclusive dialogue. For this reason, cooperation in media and technology will become one of the important foundations for the future of Indonesia–China relations.”

The forum marks an important momentum for strengthening the role of strategic communication as a bridge between Indonesia and China. Through the right narratives, closer cross-cultural collaboration, and the use of digital technology, both countries have a significant opportunity to create more inclusive and sustainable shared growth.

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