Journalists get insight into foreign policy

Mr Phongsavath Boupha.

Some 50 print journalists from the Lao Press in Foreign Languages and mainstream media agencies gathered at the Lao press's auditorium last Friday to learn about the country's foreign policy.

The gathering was organised to mark the 14 th anniversary of the Vientiane Times (April 7, 1994). Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavath Boupha was invited as a lecturer to inform media staff about foreign relations.

The Director General of the Lao Press in Foreign Languages, Savankhone Razmountry, said the talk was part of a series of lectures and presentations on various topics outlined in the human resources development plan of the Lao Press in Foreign Languages for 2008.

Mr Phongsavath said the country's foreign policy aims to support national defence and development while creating favourable conditions to attract foreign investment to assist in poverty reduction throughout the entire country by 2020.

So far, Laos has established diplomatic relations with 126 nations, and many Latin American countries have expressed their intention to enter into such a relationship with Laos , said Mr Phongsavath.

During the lecture, the deputy minister explained about the formulation of Lao foreign policy and how it is intended to assist in moving the nation forward in achieving its development goals.

He gave a brief overview of world issues and the most powerful nations in determining a global order, to help journalists understand the country's approach to the enhancement of international cooperation.

“Our Party and government have closely followed global developments to study and determine our own foreign policy,” Mr Phongsavath said.

The Party introduced the Renovation Policy in 1986, which moved away from a command economy towards a market-oriented economy.

As a result, economic cooperation, trade, investment and tourism have been growing and have helped to strengthen national development.

Laos became a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations in 1997 and is preparing to join the World Trade Organisation, a move that will boost trade and investment as well as integrate the country's economy with that of the region and the world.

Mr Phongsavath cited the issue of unexploded ordnance as an obstacle to socio-economic development. People in several provinces face constant danger from unexploded ordnance dropped during the Indochina War.

Although the war ended decades ago, a large number of bombs remain buried, often killing people and contributing to the cycle of poverty in rural areas.

The government is enhancing its international cooperation to clear these deadly remnants of war, so people can expand their farms for agricultural production.

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update April 6, 2008)