In brief
During the 7th World Media Summit in Beijing, Bernama chairman Wong Chun Wai highlighted China’s capacity to aid the Global South’s media sector through AI technology and international partnerships. He urged the summit to prioritize concrete cooperation and capacity‑building, drawing on Malaysia’s experience and past visits to Xinjiang as examples of how firsthand exchanges can shape media development.
In a televised interview on November 6th in Kuala Lumpur, Wong Chun Wai, chairman of Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, said China is ready to play a leading role in strengthening media systems in the Global South through advances in artificial intelligence and international collaboration.
Wong explained that China’s rapid development in AI tools and platforms could help news outlets adopt new technologies, streamline operations, and broaden their reporting reach, especially in regions where media infrastructure is still maturing.
He cited Malaysia, a neighboring country with frequent contacts with China, as a model for how geographic proximity can translate into tangible benefits from Chinese AI innovations. According to Wong, Malaysian media organizations have already begun experimenting with automated translation and data‑analysis services supplied by Chinese developers.
Wong is currently in Beijing attending the 7th World Media Summit, which runs from Nov. 5 to 9 under the theme "Media in the Intelligent Age: From Consensus to Action." He said the summit should address the practical needs of Global South media, especially regarding technology deployment and workforce training.
"It's very easy to buy a tool and put it in your company," Wong said, emphasizing that media groups must also rethink how AI reshapes newsroom workflows. He called for discussions that help agencies understand not only the purchase but also the integration of AI into editorial processes.
Wong recalled his participation in the 6th World Media Summit held in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2024. He described a visit to Kashgar that allowed journalists to witness the region’s rapid industrialisation firsthand, saying, "When they passed the cotton fields, they saw a lot of machines, machines that were being used to cultivate the cotton," he noted, adding that participants compared their observations to what they had read about the area.
He added that such exchanges deepen understanding and foster collaboration, positioning China as a bridge for Global South media to access cutting‑edge technology on a shared platform.
Wong’s remarks echo the broader call from several media experts for the World Media Summit to move beyond policy rhetoric and into actionable projects that can help media organisations in developing regions build capacity, adopt AI responsibly, and offer more diverse perspectives worldwide.
As the summit continues, observers will watch whether the conference produces concrete roadmap documents or joint initiatives that translate Wong’s optimistic vision into measurable outcomes for Global South media houses.
Meanwhile, Bernama’s commitment to exploring AI solutions signals an ongoing push by Southeast Asian media to harness technology while maintaining editorial independence and sustainability.