VNA General Director Nguyễn Đức Lợi (R) receives KPL General Director Sounthone Khanthavong in Hà Nội yesterday.  — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI – Leaders of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Laos News Agency (KPL) have agreed to improve the quality of their news exchange, aiming to more vigorously communicate the two nations’ special bond, especially as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of their relations in 2017.
During talks in Hà Nội on December 7, VNA General Director Nguyễn Đức Lợi and KPL General Director Sounthone Khanthavong concurred that the two sides should increase media coverage of the respective countries and their people for stronger Việt Nam- Laos relations.
KPL will continue helping VNA publish the Lao language Vietnam Pictorial in Laos, and it will promote both the publication’s online presence and the VNA’s electronic newspaper VietnamPlus on KPL’s website.
The KPL official also pledged to support the re-appearance of the VNA-run television channel Vnews on Laos’ cable TV system in 2017.
Meanwhile, the VNA offered deep commitment to assist the KPL in upgrading its website and to coordinate with and support the launch of KPL headquarter’s new Internet system.
The VNA leader also agreed to receive KPL staff to work as VNA apprentices, as proposed by his Lao counterpart.
The two sides expressed delight that the partnership between the two news agencies is growing in line with the 2016-2020 cooperation agreement. In 2016, the two sides held an exchange and professional training course from June 8-12 in the central province of Nghe An, they noted.
VNA director Lợi thanked the KPL for supporting the VNA’s representative office in Vientiane to fulfil its tasks.
Following the talks, the two leaders signed the minutes of the talks.

Also yesterday, speaking at a reception held by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc to the visiting KPL General Director Sounthone Khanthavong in Hà Nội, the PM hoped the two countries’ news agencies will maintain their co-operation in information services to strengthen unity between the two nations.

PM Phúc expressed his pleasure over the close relationship between the two agencies and affirmed that the Government would support VNA in their co-operation with the KPL.

The VNA and KPL have enjoyed a longstanding partnership that began from the past struggle for national independence and continues through the current national construction. Their close coordination has contributed to the development of the friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples. — VNA