An event at the Russian House of Science and Culture in Vientiane on Friday, titled “The Friendship Evening”, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus. The gathering aimed to strengthen the longstanding bonds of friendship, mutual understanding and cultural cooperation among the peoples of Russia, Belarus and Laos. It was attended by senior representatives of Lao ministries and government agencies, members of the executive boards of the Lao-Russian Friendship and Lao-Belarusian Societies, representatives of public organisations, and members of the diplomatic community. Welcome addresses were delivered by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Laos, Sergey Zhestkii, and the Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Kiryl Kamyshev, which is concurrently accredited to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.  --Photo Davone Manivan

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment signs a cooperation agreement with Champasak province following a meeting co-chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Linkham Douangsavanh, and the Secretary of the Champasak Provincial Party Committee, Dr Alounxay Sounnalath. The meeting comes as government agencies work to fulfil the Resolutions adopted by the 12th National Party Congress and the National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026-2030, which is in its first year of implementation. Participants discussed set directions and action plans to advance the agriculture and environment sectors in Champasak province.

Representatives of CARE International in Laos on Saturday provide rice, canned fish, noodles and other supplies for 93 families in Luang Namtha provincial capital, to replenish stocks lost during recent flooding.                         --Photo Luang Namtha provincial Health Department

Students at the Luang Prabang Technical and Vocational College attend a three-day training course last week on tourist safety and first aid. The course was taught by staff from the Luang Prabang province’s Red Cross and the province’s Tour Guide Association. The training aimed to foster a safety-conscious mindset and develop the capacity of hospitality personnel to respond to emergencies. The programme is supported by the Leading University Project for International Cooperation by Kunjang University College in the Republic of Korea.

The Editor-in-Chief of Lao Press in Foreign Languages, Ms Phonesavanh Thikeo (seated, right), and the Director of Lao Youth Radio, Dr Bounheng Southichak (standing, blue shirt), along with their delegations, pose for a group photo in the live broadcasting room of Lao Youth Radio FM 90.0 MHz in Vientiane. The photo was taken on the occasion of a visit by the Vientiane Times team to tour the studio and exchange lessons in media development and content production in the digital age.