KPL
Ambassador Megan Jones on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Mr Khamphan Pheuyavong, Head of the Commission for Information and Education, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries and Australia’s growing engagement with the Lao media sector.
Ambassador Jones shared that this year marks 74 years of diplomatic relations between Laos and Australia, and outlined how Australia was responding to Laos’ priorities to build capacity within Party and government agencies, including the media sector, to enhance officers’ English language skills, and analytical, research, and leadership capabilities.
Mr. Khamphan, a member of the Politburo, thanked Australia for its expanded support in upskilling media professionals through expert-led training and Australian study tours. He warmly welcomed training for Lao media officials and professionals to identify and address mis- and disinformation, to adapt to the evolving media landscape.
Ambassador Jones thanked Mr. Khamphan and Lao media colleagues for their support of our long standing relationship, which encompasses Party and Government engagement, life-changing development cooperation initiatives, and our growing trade and investment collaboration.
Ambassador Jones expressed her appreciation that the Commission had chosen Australia to support the 75th Lao Media Day celebration in August 2025, and recounted how Australia’s cooperation with Lao media and the Commission is expanding in line with the Comprehensive Partnership signed by Australian and Lao Prime Ministers in 2024.
Last year, Australia supported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)’s Digital Dialogue in Laos, the first in Southeast Asia, which worked to enhance the skills of Lao media professionals. In February this year, two media leaders from Laos participated in a media executive leadership program delivered by ABC with support from the Australian Government.
The ABC and Australian Associated Press (AAP), an Australian news agency, are working to strengthen collaboration with Lao media through content sharing and capacity building, to enhance cultural links and promote mutual understanding between Laos and Australia. The ABC television channel has been included in the LAOSAT programming package, enabling audiences in Laos to access a range of Australian programs, strengthening cultural ties.
Mr. Khamphan expressed his support for a series of geostrategic and geoeconomic workshops to be held in Vientiane on 16–18 June, co-hosted between Australia and Laos. The workshops will bring together Lao and Australian speakers to discuss geopolitical and geoeconomic developments and share insights and respective approaches in responding to these challenges and their impact on our region.
KPL
