Vietnam's PM asks Vietnamese, Lao news agencies to foster links

Hanoi, November 8 (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Laos News Agency (KPL) continue maintaining cooperation to meet communication requirements in each country in the new situation. In a reception for visiting KLP General Director Sounthone Khanthavong in Hanoi on December 7, the PM highlighted the flourishing development of the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, saying that it is particularly valuable in the world. He affirmed the Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach importance to nurturing the relationship, and create the most favourable conditions for the two countries’ ministries, sectors and localities to expand links. Expressing his joy at the reinforced partnership between VNA and KPL in recent times, the PM said he hopes the two agencies continue to perform well their duty of popularising the Vietnam-Laos relations, which will be maintained perpetually in the future. The Government will create all favourable conditions for VNA to build plans to cooperate with and support KPL in the coming time, he stated. VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi informed the PM of the talks and the signing of cooperation agreements between the two agencies on the same day. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to improve the quality of news for exchange, while strengthening communications on the special ties between Vietnam and Laos. They will increase media coverage of the respective countries and their people for stronger Vietnam-Laos relations. KPL will continue helping VNA publish the Vietnam Pictorial in Lao language in Laos, while promoting the publication’s online version as well as the VNA’s electronic newspaper VietnamPlus on KPL’s website. It also pledged to support the re-appearance of the VNA-run television channel Vnews on Laos’ cable TV system in 2017. Meanwhile, the VNA will assist the KPL in upgrading its website, while coordinating with and supporting the KPL to launch the Internet system in KPL’s new headquarters. For his part, Sounthone Khanthavong said his agency and VNA always join hand in disseminating the Vietnam-Laos relations, adding that the two sides are coordinating in a project to popularise the bilateral relationship towards the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18, 1977-2017). He expressed his hope that PM Phuc will continue facilitating VNA-KPL collaboration in the time ahead, thus helping them excellently performing their mission as State news agencies./.