Phnom penh: Cambodia and India are further strengthening bilateral cooperation in media and information technology through a specialised capacity-building programme for 15 officials of the Cambodian Ministry of Information under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the programme is organised by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Skills. The two-week 'Certificate Course on New Age Media and IT' is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from September 14 to 25. The programme is fully funded by the Government of India and is designed to enhance participants' professional knowledge and practical skills in emerging media technologies and digital communication. The training will cover a range of subjects, including digital content creation, visual effects, sound editing, WordPress, data journalism, digital media laws, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), a nd fact-checking. The participants will also have opportunities to visit Indian media houses and newsrooms to gain practical insights and exchange experiences. Speaking at a send-off programme held on September 9 at India House in Phnom Penh, Ambassador of India to Cambodia H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung highlighted capacity building as an important pillar of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. He encouraged the Cambodian participants to make full use of the training opportunity, apply the knowledge gained to their professional work, and contribute to the further development of Cambodia's media sector, thereby helping deepen the friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and India. He also noted the significance of the programme as Cambodia and India are preparing to commemorate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. For his part, H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, expressed his appreciation to the Government of India and the Embassy of India in Cambodia for their continued support to the Ministry of Information's human-resource development and capacity-building efforts. He said the programme would provide an important opportunity for Cambodian officials to enhance their professional skills in new-age media and information technology. H.E. Neth Pheaktra also underlined the importance of responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in journalism, stressing that technological tools should complement, rather than replace, human responsibility in producing and disseminating information. The 15-member delegation comprises officials from various units of the Ministry of Information, including radio, television, news agency, audiovisual services, and the general secretariat.