The Vietnam Spring Newspaper Festival 2011 opened in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on April 11 as part of celebrations of the traditional Boun Pimai (New Year) festival of Laos.

The event, with 500 printed publications, outstanding radio and television programmes and e-newspapers on display, is being organised by the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnam Cultural Centre in Laos .

The festival is to mark the success of the 11 th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 9 th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and welcome the traditional Tet Boun Pimai of Laos, said Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Do Quy Doan.

Over past years, Vietnam’s press has developed in both quantity and quality. Apart from highlighting the country’s development in all aspects, the press circles have also paid attention to covering Laos ’ achievements, the deputy minister said.

Lao Minister of Culture and Information Munkeo Orabun said the festival not only introduces the special characteristics of Vietnam’s press but also shows solidarity between the two peoples while offering opportunities for the two countries’ journalists to learn from each other’s experiences in the field. $0 $0$0 $0 $0The event will continue until April 21./.