Princess Aiko of Japan on Friday visits a silk textile exhibition in Vientiane, where she observed traditional weaving techniques and learns how to weave a Lao skirt from a local artisan at her loom. The Princess paid an official visit to Laos from November 17-21 to mark 70 years of Laos-Japan diplomatic ties.                                       --Photo Pathetlao

These decorations at Patouxay Park are part of the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on December 2.

Laos-China Hongta Good Luck Tobacco Co., Ltd. relaunches under the new name China Tobacco International Lao Manufacturing Co., Ltd. after more than 30 years of dedicated development. The launch ceremony took place on Thursday at the Landmark Riverside Hotel in Vientiane. The event was attended by the Mayor of Vientiane, Dr Athsaphangthong Siphandone, Deputy General Manager of China Tobacco International Group Limited, Mr Steven Liu, and other guests. Dr Athsaphangthong acknowledged the company’s contributions to Laos’ economic development over the past 30 years. He said the firm’s tangible impacts extended beyond providing stable employment and training a large number of professionals; it also fostered deep friendship between the peoples of the two nations, serving as a clear example of practical Laos-China economic and trade cooperation.

A national training workshop titled “Strengthening Communication and Information Work across the Lao Red Cross” took place from November 18-20 in Keo-oudom district, Vientiane province. The training broadened participants’ knowledge of Red Cross fundamentals, news writing, interview techniques, spokesperson skills, and video production, aiming to improve the Red Cross’s publicity efforts.

Participants, committee members and invited guests pose for a group photo following the thesis defence ceremony of the first cohort of PhD candidates in Water Resources Management at the Water Resources Faculty, Tadthong Campus, National University of Laos, on November 14, 2025. There are nine PhD students, including one woman, who have defended their theses.