Chinese Ambassador to Laos Visits PRC Media in Laos
On January 16, 2019, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong (姜再冬) visited Chinese cultural and media institutions in Laos, extending New Year greetings and calling for strengthened bilateral cooperation. During visits to the Chinese Cultural Center, China Radio International’s Laos branch (under the CCP-run China Media Group), and Xinhua News Agency’s Vientiane bureau, he met with Chinese and Lao staff. Ding Qing (丁青), the Cultural Center director, reported that the center “had become a base for Laotian people to experience Chinese culture” through “Happy Spring Festival” events. Wu Yixin (吳怡杏), CRI Laos director, noted that the station broadcasts 19 hours daily in Lao and was previously praised by then-President Bounnhang Vorachith as “the voice connecting the hearts of Laos and China.” Zhang Jianhua (章建華) of Xinhua discussed their WeChat coverage and English-language reporting on bilateral cooperation. Ambassador Jiang urged the institutions to “proactively tell the stories of the Chinese Communist Party’s governance.”