The two delegations of the two newspapers of the Vietnamese and Lao militaries met each other in a warm and brotherly atmosphere. Colonel Khamsao Keoviseth, Editor-in-Chief of the LPAN, briefed the newspaper’s history with landmarks during its establishment and development since its inception.

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Major General Pham Van Huan visiting the Lao People’s Army Newspaper

As the voice of the Lao People’s Army, the LPAN has its own impressive history, which closely connect with the Lao People’s Army and holds an important position in the Lao press. The LPAN now has its daily edition and online edition in the Lao and English languages, reflecting all national events, activities of leaders of the Lao Party, State, Army and people as well as political, economic, defense and security, cultural activities, foreign affairs and issues of public concern.

At the meeting, the host proposed the guest to promote coordination in journalism, publication and management, and invited the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper’s experts to Laos to organize on-spot refresher courses for Lao reporters, joint talks and workshops on expertise.

The host also suggested increasing exchange of visits and cooperation activities to bolster ties between the two sides as well as back each other in all spheres.

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Overview of the meeting 

For his part, Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper Pham Van Huan expressed his delight at visiting the beautiful country of Laos, and thanked the LPAN's leaders for their warm reception. He underscored the time-honored solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper and the LPAN as they have both served as the fighter in the cultural and ideological front of each country.

General Huan also took the chance to highlight the 67-year history of the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper, saying that the newspaper was presented with the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” twice; nine war reporters sacrificed themselves during the Vietnamese resistance wars for national independence and freedom; and its two reporters were bestowed the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” (one was posthumously awarded).

The newspaper is based in Vietnam’s Capital City of Hanoi and has its offices in eight other cities and provinces across the country. It has four main publications: the printed daily; the online newspaper with Vietnamese, English and Chinese editions, and underway Lao and Khmer editions; the weekly newspaper “The Weekend”; and the monthly magazine “Events and Witnesses”.  

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Major General Pham Van Huan touring the Lao People’s Army Newspaper 

According to General Huan, under a master plan on the country’s press and media development approved by the Government, the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper is developing as a multimedia news agency with its functions of orienting the public opinion and covering all areas of the country and people: culture and sports, socio-economic development, foreign affairs, politics, and defense and security. The newspaper focuses on national events, activities of the army, prevention and fight against hostile forces’ “Peaceful evolution” plot in the cultural and ideological front, prevention and fight against phenomena of “Self-evolution” and “Self-transformation” in the Party, and contribution to the Party-mobilized movement “Building and reorganizing the Party”. Apart from its reporters, the newspaper has a large number of collaborators who work in military units, civilian agencies, organizations, businesses and localities across the country.

Regarding the host’s proposals, the guest agreed that the two sides should boost coordination and cooperation, particularly in informing each other of the situation and sharing journalism experience and expertise with each other. He said, “The Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper is ready to support the LPAN in training journalism skills for its reporters and organizing workshops to sharing experiences in disseminating information about prevention and fight against hostile forces’ “Peaceful evolution” plot, and about the movement “Building and reorganizing the Party.”

General Huan also promised to propose the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to permit it to promote dissemination of information about the glorious history of the heroic Lao People’s Army in all publications of the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper in celebration of its 70th founding anniversary on January 20, 2019.

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Major General Pham Van Huan (L) presenting gifts to Major General Vanthong Kongmane

At the meeting, the two sides also exchanged regional and international situations, issues of mutual concern. The two leaders of the newspapers agreed that the two newspapers should enhance their struggles in the cultural and ideological front of each country so as to defeat all plots and attempts of hostile forces to sabotage the revolutionary achievements of each nation and undermine the time-tested friendship and unity between the two nations.

Later on the day, the delegation of the Vietnamese People’s Army Newspaper paid a courtesy call to the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Army. Major General Vanthong Kongmane, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Army received and warmly welcomed the visiting delegation. The host wished that the two militaries in general and two newspapers of the two militaries in particular promotion to the great friendship and special unity founded and fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, and the two peoples over the past 55 years, contributing to the national socio-economic development and prosperity of the two countries.

Reported by Phi Hung-Huy Dong from Vientiane, Laos

Translated by Thu Nguyen