Lao Press launches new Chinese, Lao language websites

Lao Press in Foreign Languages has officially launched Chinese and Lao language news websites, aiming to broaden its customer base and reach a wider audience.
The state-run media outlet, which currently publishes the Vientiane Times in English and the online Le Renovateur in French, on Friday hosted a ceremony to unveil the new websites.

Attending the event were Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, Tourism, Mr Savankhone Razmountry; Lao Press in Foreign Languages Director General, Mr Thonglor Duangsavanh; Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Daovon Phachanthavong; Counsellor, Deputy Chief of Mission, Chinese Embassy to Laos, Mr Zhao Chenggang; and President of the Laos-China Economic and Trade Promoting Association, Mr Allan Yang.
The Chinese language news website is accessible at https://www.weibo.com/u/6933083751?is_hot=1 while the Lao language website is accessible at https://www.vientianetimeslao.la. Another option for accessing these websites is to click the Chinese and Lao icons on the home page http://www.vientianetimes.org.la.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr Thonglor said the introduction of the Chinese language website was part of the newspaper’s policy to provide a broader platform for the distribution of information about Laos, especially Party and government policies, to the international community, with a focus on the Chinese audience.
The launch of the Lao language website aims to reinforce the role of Lao Press in Foreign Languages as an official news platform to provide the local and international communities with reliable information about events in Laos and overseas.
Mr Thonglor said the new service had been introduced in line with the development strategy of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, which aims for Lao media services to be modern, fast and accurate as well as timely.
Lao Press in Foreign Languages has been working actively to introduce new products as well as provide more services amid growing challenges from both registered and unregistered media organisations which use cheap social media platforms to disseminate information.
Earlier this year, Lao Press in Foreign Language published a special edition in the English and Chinese languages to provide relevant information in support of Visit Laos-China Year 2019. This was the first ever Lao national newspaper to be published online in Chinese.   
Mr Savankhone praised the launch of the two new websites by Lao Press in Foreign Languages, saying it was necessary for Lao media outlets to make changes to cope with the changing media environment and to stay up-to-date.
He urged the mainstream media in Laos to focus more on human resource development as well as incorporating new knowledge and technology, adding that improved media services would make a significant contribution to the task of national protection and development.

Mr Zhao Chenggang said the Chinese Embassy to Laos welcomed the launch of the Chinese language news website and thanked Lao Press in Foreign Languages for playing a key role in strengthening the relationship between Laos and China.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update October 14, 2019)