Mr Vansay Tavinyan addresses 11th ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum in Yunnan.--Photo Global Times

Lao media calls for stronger ASEAN Plus Three ties to foster connectivity, shared prosperity

Kunming, China – The Lao media has expressed strong support to advance ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) media cooperation to foster cultural exchanges and mutual development.
Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Training Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Editor-in-Chief of the Pasaxon newspaper, Vansay Tavinyan, made the comment at the 11th ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum held in Yunnan on Wednesday.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief, People's Daily, Mr Cui Shixin. Photo Global Times

Co-hosted by the People's Daily, the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Yunnan Provincial People's Government, the forum was themed "Increase Inter-connectivity for Common Development and Shared Benefits".
Delivering a keynote speech at the forum on behalf of the Lao media sector, Mr Vansay said the forum was vital to deepen cooperation among the 10 ASEAN countries and the three partners, as it aims to foster mutual understanding, strengthen collaboration, enhance media work, and achieve shared benefits.
“I fully support the theme of this forum. This is not only for future development but also for promoting the exchange of knowledge, culture, and innovation,” he said. 
Mr Vansay stressed that Lao media reports focus on factual coverage of social achievements, economic progress, and modernisation efforts across the ASEAN Plus Three countries.
Over the years, the Lao media has benefited from close cooperation with regional partners in strengthening professional capacity and sharing experiences. Such collaboration, Mr Vansay noted, has allowed Lao media to better fulfill its responsibilities and build stronger ties with international counterparts.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Daily, Mr Cui Shixin emphasised that strengthening cooperation in the face of the changing and turbulent world is more important than ever before.
“Cultural and people-to-people exchange is the most profound and enduring force in promoting connectivity between nations,” he said.
“It transcends institutional differences, reaching deep into people's hearts, and is key to eliminating barriers, enhancing friendship, and strengthening the foundation for cooperation.”
Other speakers echoed the pivotal role of the media in fostering cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding.
Deputy Director of the International Department of the People's Daily, Mr Pei Guangjiang, said media cooperation is a key component of China-ASEAN cooperation, shouldering the crucial mission of shaping and promoting shared values, telling stories of win-win cooperation, and fostering mutual understanding and friendship among peoples.
“We must adapt to shifts in international public opinion, strengthen media openness and cooperation, and amplify the voice of the Global South,” he said.
He added that the media in the Global South urgently need to strengthen openness and cooperation, seize the opportunities presented by digital technological transformation, bridge the information gap created by the digital divide, and uphold the message of the Global South upholding independence, pursuing development and revitalisation, and defending fairness and justice.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo 
(Latest Update September 22, 2025)