Telmin reaffirms importance of promoting regional cybersecurity collaborations

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Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (left) discussing with Minister of Communication and Multimedia Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Keruak (centre) and Singapore Communication and Information Minister Dr Yaakob Ibrahim (right) during the Asean 16th Communication and Information Technology Ministers Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan. — Bernama photo

Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (left) discussing with Minister of Communication and Multimedia Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Keruak (centre) and Singapore Communication and Information Minister Dr Yaakob Ibrahim (right) during the Asean 16th Communication and Information Technology Ministers Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan. — Bernama photo

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The 16th Asean Telecommuniation and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (Telmin) has reaffirmed the importance of promoting regional cybersecurity collaborations and developing coordinated cybersecurity policies and approaches.

In this regard, the ministers, in a joint statement yesterday, welcomed the proposed Asean Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy which calls for stronger coordination of holistic cybersecurity policy and norms in Asean and the development of a robust cybersecurity cooperation and capacity building framework.

This would enhance the coordination of cybersecurity approaches with Asean’s Dialogue Partners and other stakeholders.

“The ministers were also of the view that Telmin may serve as a platform for dedicated cybersecurity  discussions in Asean, given the strong inter-relationship between the ICT and cybersecurity domains,” said the joint statement which was read out by Minister of Communication of Brunei  Darussalam, Dato Mutappa Sirat, who chaired Telmin 2016.

The ministers also welcomed the progress made in the first year of implementation of the Asean ICT Masterplan 2020 (AIM2020) which they said laid a strong foundation in propelling Asean  towards a digitally-enabled economy that was secure, sustainable,and transformative and to enable an innovative, inclusive and integrated Asean Community.

The statement also said that the ministers noted with satisfaction the development of a set of Key Performance Indicators to facilitate the monitoring of the impact of measures implemented under AIM2020, as such indicators would provide better insights on how Asean  was working towards realising its goals and targets as stipulated in AIM2020.

The ministers also adopted the Asean Framework on Personal Data Protection which would establish a set of principles to guide the implementation of measures at both national and regional level to promote and strengthen personal data protection in the region.

The statement also said that the ministers reiterated their support to further enhance the development of ICT policies, human resources as well as connectivity in the region; among others the development of an Asean Framework on International Mobile Roaming to provide travellers and business people with affordable access to international mobile roaming services within Asean. According to the statement, the ministers appreciated the recommendations from the Data Demand Study on a  Roadmap to Increase Broadband Capacity in Asean (Phase 2), which provides strategic guidance in developing  policies that enable the improvement of national broadband capacity accross Asean  in line with the growth of a digitally-enabled Asean Community.

“The ministers adopted the Brunei Darussalam Declaration on Connected Innovative Community to advance Asean’s vision of establishing an innovative and inclusive community whereby the stakeholders, be it businesses or end users, will be able to fully capitalise on the advent of technology to further enrich their welbeing.

On the ICT cooperation with dialogue and development partners, the statement said the ministers looked  forward to further deepening the cooperation with the Dialogue Partners to enhance ICT policies, develop human resources, explore emerging technologies for adoption, and improve the capacity to address cybesecurity risks in the implemention of AIM2020.

The ministers acknowledged China’s support in the successful conclusion of five China-Asean ICT related training activities held in China in the areas of Internet new business and application, network security emergency response capacity building, broadband development and universal service, new generation information technology, and ICT driving socio-economic sustainable development.

The statement said that the ministers expressed their appreciation to Japan for her assistance in various areas of cooperation in 2016, including the ‘Asean  Smart Network’ and endorsing the 2017 Asean-Japan ICT Work  Plan which supports the implementation of the Asean ICT Master Plan 2020 or AIM2020.

“The ministers valued the importance of the Asean-Japan cooperation of Cybersecurity and welcomed the launch of the Step 1 of the Asean-Japan Cybersecurity Cooperation Hub which covers CYBER exercises, Cyber SEA Games and feasibility study of a physical hub.

The ministers  also commended the progress made in the implementation of the ‘Asean-Japan Critical  Information Security’ including the release of the Asean -Japan Critical Information Infrastructure Protection  Guidelines.

The statement also noted that the Ministers acknowledged the Republic of Korea  for having successfully  implemented a series of cooperative activities in 2016, among others on new technology and services, capacity  building and knowledge sharing.

According to the statement, the ministers welcomed the plan to introduce an Asean-Korea ICT partnership  focusing on four strategic areas such as innovation, connectivity enhancement, human resource development and information security in line with the strategic thrusts of AIM2020.

“The ministers endorsed the 2017 Asean-Korea ICT Work Plan which includes cooperation projects in new  areas such as loT, big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the aim of developing and promoting new technologies to proactively respond to the nest industrial revolution,” the joint statement said.

The ministers agreed to convene the 17th Asean Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministers Meeting and its meetings with Dialogue Partners and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Cambodia in 2017. — Bernama