KUALA LUMPUR:ASEAN member states need to strengthen their connectivity and move as one bloc in accelerating digitalisation in the region, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM) secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek said this is because the digital sector works as a critical enabler for almost all other sectors.

Therefore, he said it is important that the sector ensures the security and safety of the digital ecosystem that is being increasingly relied upon by the other sectors.

"I believe and trust that we have had a very fruitful deliberation, and Malaysia ensures its utmost dedication during its tenure of chairmanship," he said in his closing remarks at the first ASEAN Digital Senior Officials Meeting (ADGSOM1) here today.

Earlier, ASEAN digital senior officials met with their dialogue partners from the United States (US), China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, European Union (EU) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Mohammad also co-chaired the ADGSOM1+EU Meeting virtually with Petri Koistinen, the principal administrator (international affairs) for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology.

Among the matters discussed during the meetings were the progress of the ICT Work Plan of ASEAN and its dialogue partners and the preparation for the ministerial-level meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow.

The two-day virtual ADGSOM participated by all 10 ASEAN member states is hosted by Malaysia with the ASEAN secretariat acting as the facilitator.

The meeting will then proceed to the ministerial level ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN1) tomorrow, chaired by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin delivering his keynote address virtually at 10 am during the opening ceremony of the event.

-- BERNAMA