First National Media Conference Opens, Setting Vision for the Future of Lao Media

Vientiane: The First National Media Conference officially opened in Vientiane on Tuesday under the theme "Strengthening Party Leadership and Developing Media Toward a Strong Transition to a New Quality," bringing together senior Party and State leaders, policymakers, media executives, and journalists to chart the future direction of the Lao media sector. According to Lao News Agency, the conference was chaired by Gen. Vilay Lakhamfong, Member of the Politburo and Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Secretariat. Among those attending were Khamphan Pheuyavong, Member of the Politburo, Head of the Party Central Committee's Information and Education Commission, and Vice President of the Central Party Theoretical Committee, along with Party Central Committee members, senior government officials, and representatives of central and provincial media organizations. Delivering the keynote opening address, Gen. Vilay described the conference as a landmark event in the development of Lao media. He stated that the gathering would conduct a comprehensive review of media achievements in recent years, assess the implementation of the Politburo's resolution on strengthening Party leadership and State management of the media in the new era, identify existing challenges, and formulate strategic priorities to guide the sector's development through 2030. He reaffirmed that the Party and Government have consistently regarded the media as a strategic pillar of political and ideological work, public communication, and national development. The media, he noted, serves as a vital channel for disseminating Party policies, State laws, and national development strategies, while fostering public consensus, strengthening political stability, and responding promptly to misinformation and attempts to undermine national interests. Participants also exchanged views on enhancing the quality, professionalism, and credibility of Lao media while reinforcing its role in supporting the Party's strategic objectives of national developme nt and national defense. The conference is expected to conclude with a policy address by President Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Lao PDR, outlining the Party and Government's vision for the future development of the Lao media sector.