November 24, 2023
VIENTIANE – Lao and Chinese media personnel met in Vientiane on Monday to discuss the work of the media and to witness the opening of a news analysis training centre.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Mr Phosy Keomanivong, Vice President of the China Media Group Mr Hu Jinjun, and other officials from the two countries.
Mr Phosy said the meeting reflected the deep cooperation between Laos and China under the One Belt, One Road initiative.
Laos and China are friendly neighbouring countries and their relationship is being continually enhanced by stronger infrastructure links. This enables greater mutual understanding through the One Belt, One Road scheme, while media personnel in the two countries are working ever more closely together to move the scheme forward, he observed.
During the 3rd One Belt, One Road international summit, the Lao and Chinese presidents endorsed an agreement on media cooperation, after the parties and governments of the two countries requested that cooperation become more effective in reporting on developments under the One Belt, One Road initiative, Mr Phosy said.
This cooperation took another step forward last year, when Laos’ Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and China’s Radio-Television signed another agreement aimed at bolstering media links. As a result of this partnership, it is anticipated in 10 years’ time the Lao media industry will be greatly improved and modernised.
Mr Phosy said he hoped that closer ties with Chinese radio and television operators would enable more sharing of information, stronger links between media personnel and improvement of radio, television and newspapers in Laos. Mr Hu said there would be more frequent exchanges between radio and television personnel in promoting the One Belt, One Road initiative on the international stage.
Staff at Lao National Television have been working with their Chinese counterparts, and China has provided equipment and training to improve the quality of electronic media, he added.
China has provided scholarships for the training of Lao media officials, who have attended regional training courses.
With the ever strengthening relationship between Laos and China, media personnel in Laos and China are working more closely to report on developments under the One Belt, One Road initiative, including making feature films and documentaries, issuing online broadcasts, and working together to devise radio and television programmes.
Closer contact between media personnel is increasingly important in further strengthening the ties between Laos and China, and serves to perpetuate the longstanding friendship and relations between the two countries and their citizens, Mr Hu said.