Laos, China’s Yunnan province sign cooperation agreements
The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and China’s Yunnan province have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the information sector for their mutual benefit.
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Razmountry (right) shakes hands after signing a memorandum of understanding with Yunnan provincial Deputy Governor Gu Zhao Xi in Vientiane on Friday, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad.
An MOU on the cooperation was signed in Vientiane on Friday by Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Razmountry and Deputy Governor of Yunnan province Gu Zhao Xi.
The signing ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials from Laos and China, including Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad.
Under the MOU, the two sides will enhance cooperation in the areas of radio, television, film production, TV dramas, and information. The two sides also agreed to facilitate exchange visits and technical training.
Yunnan province agreed to assist Laos with the application of the Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcast (DTMB) system in radio and TV networks throughout the country. Yunnan’s support will include funding, technical advice, training and marketing.
The agreement will also see Yunnan’s television station open a Lao-language channel that will transmit films and plays to Laos.
To enforce the agreement, the two sides will set up a cooperation agreement. They have assigned Lao National Television and a digital company in Yunnan province to further sign an agreement to implement the project.
The two sides also agreed to consolidate their coordination and cooperation to ensure the effectiveness of the agreed projects.
On the same day, Laos and Yunnan province signed another nine documents relating to trade, investment, urban development, foreign affairs, science and technology.
China is a major investor in Laos, with investment from the country totalling over US$3.3 billion in 742 projects, mainly in mining, industry and handicrafts, agriculture, services, education, health, telecommunications, construction, hydropower, industrial farms and garment production.
Of these 742 projects, 551 projects are 100 percent Chinese investments and 191 are joint ventures.
