Lao National TV sharpens vision with China- supported HD upgrade

Local viewers are in for clearer images following the handover of a high definition system upgrade for Lao National Television (LNTV) Channel 3 in Vientiane on Friday under a China aid programme.
The 63 billion kip (52 million Chinese yuan) upgrade involved improving Channel 3’s standard definition technical equipment to the digital HD system, allowing local media to enhance the quality of production.
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Savankhone Razmountry, Director General of Lao National Television, Mr Bounchao Phichit, Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s Office at the Chinese Embassy to Laos, Mr Wang Qihui, and officials from both countries attended the handover ceremony.
Mr Wang said the programme was a symbol of the growing cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries which was emphasised during the current Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
“This handover ceremony is a new beginning in media cooperation between the two countries for the exchange of news and features in the fine traditions and common destiny of China and Laos,” he said.
Following the LNTV HD upgrade, China is providing technical and operational support and training courses for Lao officials over three years up to August 2022.
Mr Bounchao noted that the programme was part of the longstanding and ongoing collaboration between the two parties, governments and countries.
The LNTV HD upgrade comes after the Lao and Chinese governments signed an agreement on August 10, 2017. Work on the Channel 3 system upgrade began on December 10 last year and was completed on August 9.
China’s Ministry of Commerce suggested the Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Beijing Century Sage Scientific Co., Ltd. Consortium for the cooperation programme, which was implemented with LNTV and China’s Radio-Film & Television Design & Research Institute.    

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update September 9, 2019)