The first issue of the National Assembly's weekly Phouthen Pasaxon newspaper was published yesterday, with the aim of broadcasting the Assembly's successes to the general public.

The launch ceremony took place at the National Assembly (NA) Office in Vientiane and was attended by Office representatives, the local press, and staff from the Phouthen Pasaxon newspapers of Laos and Vietnam.

The newspaper publishes articles on science, technology, and socio-economic and cultural issues.

According to a report from NA M ass Media Department Director Mr Thongda Souphasith at the opening ceremony, the first edition consists of eight pages, with colour on the front and back pages. One thousand copies will be published every Tuesday.

Mr Thongda, who is the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief, said the NA has a 15-year history in print and electronic media and the first issue of its quarterly magazine, also called Phouthen Pasaxon , was published on June 12, 1996.

During the course of the NA's 6th Legislature, the publication developed into a bi-monthly magazine before later becoming monthly, and will now be a weekly newspaper.

The NA also airs the Phouthen Pasaxon programme on the AM and FM 107.3 Mkz frequency through Lao National Radio. The programme was launched on January 2, 2010, and is broadcast every Saturday from 7:30 to 8am.

Deputy Chief of the NA Office and Supervisor of Phouthen Pasaxon , Mr Viseth Svengsuksa, said the newspaper will play a key role in the Lao media and thanked NA leaders and members for their support in developing print and electronic outlets that were capable of competing with other forms of media in Laos.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ho Anh Tai, who is Editor-in-Chief of the Dai Bieu Nhan Dan ( Phouthen Pasaxon ) daily newspaper published by the Vietnam National Assembly, said his newspaper would closely cooperate with and support the Lao National Assembly newspaper in areas such as equipment and human resource development.