Then VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi (front, second from right) and his KPL counterpart Sounthone Khanthavong sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on January 15, 2019. (Photo: VNA)During the fierce resistancewar against the US in Vietnam, even before 1968 - when the KPL was set up, theVNA sent a number of reporters, editors and technical staff to perform dutiesin Laos.
They and their Lao colleaguesbraved hardships and heavy bombardment, even sacrificed their lives, to followthe Pathet Lao army to deliver timely news and photos about the latest developmentson battlefields and report on the liberated areas and victories of the Laoarmy.
News, articles and photosmade by VNA correspondents were sent to the Lao revolution’s central body inSam Neua to serve the country’s resistance war. They were also provided forRadio Pathet Lao, the newspaper of the Lao Patriotic Front, and mediaoutlets of Vietnam and other countries, helping win over support from the peoples inVietnam and the world for the Lao people’s struggle.
During that time, VNA expertsalso assisted the Lao side to gear up personnel and equipment for theestablishment of the KPL. All kept in mind President Ho Chi Minh’s teachingthat Vietnamese cadres working in Laos must completely abide by the leadershipof the Lao Central Government, especially Prime Minister Souphanouvong, whilesteering clear of arrogance.
Their efforts paid off whenthe VNA’s Department of World News cited Radio Pathet Lao’s first bulletin onthe establishment of the KPL (Khaosan Pathet Lao) on January 5, 1968.
Since that historic landmark,the VNA and the KPL have always maintained strong relations. The former views providingtechnical assistance and sending professionals to help its Lao counteprart as apolitical task and also its noble responsibility and obligation.
The VNA hands over equipment to the KPL in Vientiane on November 23, 2018. (Photo: VNA)The VNA has continuedoffering personnel and material support for the KPL, including holding trainingcourses, upgrading the information system, designing a new content management system,equipping the KPL’s new headquarters with advanced facilities, building amodern and fully equipped studio for TV news programmes, and donating computersand cameras to the Lao side.
With its wholeheartedcooperation with and support for the KPL, the VNA was bestowed with the first-classIssara Order in 1995 and the second-class Issara Order in 2019 by the Lao Partyand State.
On March 29 this year, VNA GeneralDirector Vu Viet Trang and her KPL counterpart Khampheuy Philapha signed acooperation agreement for 2022 - 2025 during their virtual talks.
Trang noted the agencies’ cooperationand information sharing have helped popularise the great friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, State andpeoples./.
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