Laos hosts training on digital transformation for media
The training, held here from Tuesday (Aug 5) to Thursday, was attended by Savankhone Razmountry, president of the Lao Journalists' Association, Lao Economic Daily reported on Tuesday.
During the training, Lao media officials engaged with experts and academics to exchange knowledge and skills.
The programme covered key topics including digital transformation, media sustainability, digital content and mobile news production, combatting fake news, artificial intelligence and social media analysis. - Xinhua
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
14 minutes ago
- The Star
Interview: Zimbabwean scholar says China's rural revitalization experience inspires his country
HARARE, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's success in rural revitalization can serve as an inspiration for Zimbabwe's development path, a Zimbabwean scholar said on Tuesday. Achieford Mhondera, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the second edition of the Harare Forum for Africa (HFA) held in Harare, the southern African country's capital. Rural development is crucial to Zimbabwe's economic transformation, as the majority of its population resides in rural areas, Mhondera said, noting that China went through a similar stage of development many years ago. Given that both countries are developing economies in the Global South, Zimbabwe can learn from the practical measures China has adopted in advancing rural development, Mhondera added. He said China's "two mountains" concept, which holds that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," can provide inspiration for sustainable and ecological rural development in Zimbabwe. "You need a conducive and safe environment for development, and these are some of the things we need to learn from China's experience. If you go to the Chinese countryside, you will find lucid waters and lush mountains -- often described as mountains of gold and silver -- which can be adopted and adapted in Zimbabwe's case," Mhondera said. Drawing on China's rural revitalization efforts, particularly in modernizing agriculture and improving rural living standards, Mhondera noted that a conducive ecological environment is vital for promoting rural development. "In terms of rural development and modernization, I think the first step in the modernization process is to build a good countryside -- a beautiful, ecologically sustainable countryside," he said. He observed that rural development in China is driven by a combination of government intervention and active participation of local communities. Mhondera stressed that cooperation with China has played a crucial role in advancing rural development in Zimbabwe. "Cooperation is already underway, and there are more activities in progress," he said. He further noted that Zimbabwe and China can deepen collaboration in developing irrigation facilities, as Zimbabwe still largely relies on rain-fed agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to climate change. "China is helping Zimbabwe by developing the countryside, installing solar-powered irrigation systems, and sharing expert knowledge in horticulture and other agricultural practices. I think there is a need to further strengthen this cooperation and expand the model to other areas," he added. Co-organized by the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University, the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, and the China Zimbabwe Exchange Center, this year's HFA ran under the theme of Rural Development and Modernization, bringing together academics, business leaders, and government representatives to share their views on Africa's rural development.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Zambian expert urges return to rule-based global trading system
LUSAKA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Countries need to return to a rule-based international trading system to ensure fairness and stability in global trade, a Zambian development expert has said. Fredrick Mutesa, secretary general of the Zambia-China Friendship Association, stressed the importance of adhering to a trading system governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), especially as many countries, including the United States, are signatories to its conventions. "It is important that the international community, particularly the global economy, operates on the basis of a rule-based system -- in this case, the rules and regulations laid down by the WTO," Mutesa said in a recent interview with Xinhua, following the U.S. decision to impose import tariffs on its trading partners. He warned that policies diverging from this framework undermine the proper functioning of the international trading system, while urging African countries to raise their voices against measures that could hurt their economies. Mutesa noted that the tariff measures might not even benefit U.S. consumers, who rely on imported goods, or farmers who depend on access to foreign markets like China, with delays in fully enforcing the tariffs indicating that analysts are still evaluating potential consequences, some of which may be detrimental to U.S. interests. Since returning to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a series of import tariffs, varying by country. He has argued that the tariffs are intended to boost American manufacturing and protect domestic jobs.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Roundup: Cambodian scholars laud Cambodia-China economic, trade cooperation
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian officials and scholars on Tuesday lauded Cambodia-China economic and trade cooperation and a bilateral free trade agreement, saying that they have offered tremendous mutual benefit and win-win situation. They made the remarks during a seminar on Cambodia-China economic and trade cooperation 2025. Kao Muy Thong, deputy secretary general of the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development of Cambodia, said China is Cambodia's top investor, trading partner and major source of tourists, adding that Chinese investment and tourists have significantly contributed to the kingdom's socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. He said the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), which entered into force in 2022, has provided greater access of made-in-Cambodia products to the Chinese market. "Under the CCFTA, Cambodia can export more than 340 categories of products to China, with 95 percent of them being agricultural goods with zero-percent tariffs," he said. "The remaining 5 percent, which are machinery and vehicles, will see tariffs reduced to zero percent within 10 years." He said 2025, which is the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism, has provided a good opportunity for both countries to further expand people-to-people exchanges and trade relations for mutual benefit. Heang Sotheara, an advisor to Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said China has played a critical role in Cambodia's economic growth. Sotheara said Chinese investors should focus on non-garment manufacturing sectors such as food and beverage, agro-industry, and agriculture, adding that these sectors have potential for medium- and long-term investment. Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the CCFTA has contributed to rising Cambodian exports to China and improved tariff preferences. "For the CCFTA to deliver broad-based benefits, Cambodia must invest in technical capacity, accelerate protocol negotiations, and promote higher-value exports," he said. Chandarith said Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) mega-projects such as the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, Phnom Penh Sihanoukville Expressway, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and hydropower plants are vivid examples of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. "These BRI flagship projects have laid a solid foundation for Cambodia's development of the economy, trade, manufacturing industry, connectivity infrastructure, logistics and tourism as well as for attracting more foreign direct investment to the kingdom," he said. "In sum, broader Cambodia-China economic and trade cooperation will provide greater mutual benefit and win-win situation, injecting more vigorous impetus into building an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era," Chandarith added.
