VNA, KPL: Close ties over the decades

Decades have flown by since the first Lao journalists from Khaosan Pathet Lao (Laos News Agency) were sent to the Vietnam News Agency to acquire journalism skills, yet former students of the course still recall the details of their time when Vietnam was their second home.

Khamphan Suvannakha was among six young journalists from the Laos News Agency sent to the Vietnam News Agency between 1981 and 1985 to study journalism. Though Vietnam faced numerous difficulties at the time, the Vietnam News Agency still held classes to help staff from the Laos and Cambodian News Agencies. Recalling the class, Khamphan Suvannakha was deeply moved.

Khamphan’s classmate Khampin Sishophavong, who later became Editor-in-Chief of Financial News under the Lao Ministry of Finance, has similar memories from the Vietnam News Agency’s journalism course.

According to Sounthone Khanthavong, former General Director of the Laos News Agency, the close ties between the two news agencies, especially in personnel training and technical assistance, was a firm foundation for the strong development of the Laos News Agency over the last five decades./.

VNA