YANGON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A meeting on information by the Sub-committee on Culture and Information (SCI) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is underway in Myanmar's Yangon.

The two-day 19th meeting of ASEAN SCI, which began on Tuesday, reviewed and discussed decisions of the ASEAN Summit meetings and presented future work of information sector.

Myanmar Minister of Information Dr. Pe Myint voiced encouragement to the development of programs and dissemination of information on the benefit and opportunities offered by the ASEAN Community.

He stressed the promotion of mutual respect and appreciation of diversity in line with the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Information and Media (2016-2025) as well as promotion of a culture of media pluralism and socially responsible media in creating a peaceful, people-centered, dynamic and outward looking community with the collaboration of government-to-government, government-to-business and ASEAN dialogue partners.

He called for efforts to strengthen the information sector of ASEAN, emphasizing the need for all member states to support each other in implementing the respective national communication plans as well as the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN strategic Plan for Information and Media Plan (2016-2025).

The 18th ASEAN SCI meeting was held in Malaysia in 2017.