（中外新闻社小记者 胡正阳 张牧真 卜思宇）时间无言，山河见证。从1962年到1978年，应老挝请求，中国先后派遣超过11万人次的解放军工程兵和防空部队进入老挝。他们修筑公路、架设通信线路、执行防空任务，许多人为此献出宝贵的生命，长眠于老挝的土地。至今，老挝境内仍有多座中国烈士陵园。8月4日下午，“见证友谊”--2026暑期中国中外新闻社小记者如约采访老挝驻华大使宋蓬·西加伦阁下。
Time speaks no words, but the mountains and rivers bear witness. From 1962 to 1978, at the request of Laos, China dispatched more than 110,000 personnel from the People’s Liberation Army’s Engineering Corps and Air Defense Forces to Laos. They built roads, laid communication lines, and carried out air defense missions; many sacrificed their precious lives in the process and now rest eternally on Laotian soil. To this day, there are still many Chinese martyrs’ cemeteries throughout Laos. On the afternoon of August 4, “Witnessing Friendship”-- 2026 Summer Home and Abroad News Press Junior Journalist Delegation had an exclusive interview with the Ambassador of Laos to China H.E. Mr. Somphone Sichaleune.
宋蓬·西加伦大使进入会议厅，向小记者一一问候，小记者用英语向大使介绍自己。宋蓬·西加伦说，今天，我们大使馆迎来这么多中国小记者，这是我接待的非常重要的小记者代表团，我将珍惜这次对话机会。
Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune entered the conference hall and greeted each junior journalist individually, while the students introduced themselves to the ambassador in English. Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune said, “Today, our embassy welcomes so many young Chinese journalists. This is a very important junior journalist delegation that I have the honor of hosting, and I will cherish this opportunity to talk to many Chinese young people.”
宋蓬·西加伦大使向小记者详细的介绍了老挝这个国家：老挝，位于中南半岛北部，是东南亚11国中唯一的内陆国，老挝日渐重视发展旅游行业，来老挝旅游的游客中，最多的是中国、泰国、越南；2019年是中老旅游年，中国游客增长达到100万人次。老挝以农业为主，工业、服务业基础薄弱，水利资源丰富，产柚木、花梨等名贵木材。老挝是世界贸易组织成员国、东盟成员国，是中国—东盟自贸区成员及大湄公河次区域（GMS）合作成员。
Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune gave the junior journalists a detailed introduction to Laos. located in the northern part of the Indochinese Peninsula, Laos is the only landlocked country among the 11 nations of Southeast Asia. Laos is placing increasing emphasis on developing its tourism industry; among tourists visiting Laos, the largest groups come from China, Thailand, and Vietnam. 2019 was designated as the China-Laos Tourism Year, during which the number of Chinese tourists reached 1 million. Laos is primarily an agricultural economy with underdeveloped industrial and service sectors. It is rich in water resources and produces valuable timbers such as teak and rosewood. Laos is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as a member of the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cooperation.
有小记者问: “你好大使阁下!您是一位资深的外交官，我们中国小记者能采访您非常荣幸。2024 年 1 月 30 日，你在北京人民大会堂向中国国家主席习近平递交国书，正式成为老挝人民民主共和国驻华大使。你认为，中老青少年如何传承两国的宝贵友谊？两国青少年如何为中老友好关系健康发展贡献自己的智慧和力量？谢谢!”
“Hello, Ambassador! As a seasoned diplomat, it is a great honor for us to interview you today. On January 30, 2024, you presented your credentials to Chinese President Xi in Beijing, officially becoming the Ambassador of the Laos to China. In your opinions, how can young generations in China and Laos carry forward the precious friendship between our two countries? How can the youth of both nations contribute their wisdom and efforts to the healthy development of China-Laos friendly relations? Thank you!” a junior journalist asked.
宋蓬·西加伦大使谈到，谢谢，这是一个很好的问题。2026年适逢老中建交六十五周年暨老中友好年，两国关系处于历史最好时期，老中铁路等旗舰项目助力老挝实现转型发展、惠及民生，两国全面战略伙伴关系不断提升。
Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune said, “Thank you, that’s a very good question. The year 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and China, as well as the Laos-China Year of Friendship. Our bilateral relations are at their best in history, with flagship projects such as the Laos-China Railway helping Laos achieve transformative development and improve people’s livelihoods, and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries continues to strengthen.”
对于中国和老挝的青少年要如何来传承友谊，宋蓬·西加伦大使说，最重要的就是首先需要研究对方国家正在发生的大事件，然后多了解两国的历史，要不断的主动学习彼此的文化，才能够真正的去互相了解。那最重要的，学习完了之后，我们还要有一些实践的活动，能够让两边都能增进互相的了解。
When asked how young people in China and Laos can carry forward this friendship, Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune said that the most important thing is, first and foremost, to study the major events taking place in the other country, then to learn more about the history of both nations, and to continuously and proactively learn about each other’s cultures so that can we truly understand one another. Most importantly, after learning, we must also engage in practical activities that allow both sides to deepen their mutual understanding.
有小记者问: “大使阁下您好！5 月 19 日，您成功访问西南政法大学，此前还访问四川大学，高度肯定学校在法学教育、涉外法治研究等领域的卓越成就，双方围绕深化中老法学教育合作、推进区域法治协同、助力中国—东盟命运共同体建设等议题深入交流，共话合作愿景，共商发展大计。可见您对两国教育合作的重视，您认为：中国和老挝在教育领域还有哪些合作空间?”
“Dear Ambassador, On May 19, you paid a successful visit to Southwest University of Political Science and Law, where you highly commended the university’s outstanding achievements in legal education and research on foreign-related regulations. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as deepening China and Laos’ cooperation in legal education, advancing regional rule of law coordination, and contributing to the China-ASEAN Community with a vision for cooperation and future plans. This clearly demonstrates the importance you place on educational cooperation between our two countries. In your opinions, what are the potentials for educational cooperation between China and Laos? Thank you!”
“老挝有很多的项目，教育在热火朝天进行中。那么在这些项目当中，肯定需要很多技能或者是需要很多的优秀人的一个帮助。所以，年轻人在这个过程中，我们可以能够不断的去贡献自己的技巧技能或者是语言，或者是各种才艺才能，老挝和中国在教育领域合作才有意义!” 宋蓬·西加伦大使表示，中国和老挝关系正常化以来，双边关系得到了全面恢复和发展，两国在教育领域的友好交流与合作也不断深化，现在有超过1万名的老挝留学生在中国，他们也会不断的去扩增长这样子的一个目标，就是为老挝的经济和社会发展能够储备更多的人才!
“There are many projects in Laos, and educational initiatives are in full swing. Among these projects, there is certainly a great need for specialized skills and the assistance of talented individuals. Therefore, as young people, we can continuously contribute our technical skills, language skills, and various talents throughout this process. As a result, the cooperation between Laos and China in the field of education will be meaningful!” Ambassador also noted that since the normalization of relations between China and Laos, bilateral ties have been fully restored and developed, and friendly exchanges and cooperation in the field of education have continued to deepen. There are now more than 10,000 Laotian students studying in China, and we will continue to work toward the goal of increasing this number to cultivate more talent for Laos’ economic and social development!
有小记者问：大使阁下您好！提到一个国家，人们总是习惯于从一个国家所特有的自然地貌，寻找代表该国家的特点，比如一谈到长江、黄河、大熊猫，人们都知道是中国。提到老挝，我们应该想到什么呢？我有一个心愿：希望能和老挝小朋友交朋友，向他们传递中国儿童对他们的友好情意。请问：通过什么渠道可以实现我们的心愿？谢谢！
“Dear Ambassador, When people think of a country, they often look to its unique natural features to identify what represents it. For example, when people hear “Yellow River” or “Giant Panda” they immediately think of China. When we think of Laos, what should come to our mind? I have a wish: I hope to make friends with Laotian children and deliver our friendship with them. I want to know what channels can we make this wish come true? Thank you!” another junior journalist asked.
宋蓬·西加伦大使说，大家提到湄公河，一定会想到一个国家，那就是老挝。这个国家静静藏在山峦与湄公河的怀抱中，保持着神秘与宁静。被称为“印度支那屋脊”。
Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune said that when people mention the Mekong River, one country inevitably comes to mind: Laos. Embraced by the mountains and the Mekong River, this country retains an air of mystery and tranquility. It is known as the “Roof of Indochina.”
关于如何跟老挝的青少年交朋友，大使在这里给我们两点建议：第一：我们可以考虑直接去老挝，因为在那边直接去交朋友、去感受、去体验，去选择小朋友。第二：我们可以在网上去找老挝的青少年，跟他们在网上先建立一种链接。等到以后有机会的话，就可以延续这份友谊。
Regarding how to make friends with Laotian youth, the ambassador offered two suggestions: First, we can consider traveling to Laos directly, as being there allows us to make friends, immerse ourselves in the culture, gain firsthand experiences, and choose the children we’d like to connect with. Second, we can search for Laotian youth online and establish an initial connection with them there. When the opportunity arises in the future, we can then continue this friendship.
宋蓬·西加伦大使在把我们带到使馆展示的图片中告诉我们：40年前，他的父亲任老挝驻华大使，40年后，他任老挝驻华大使，两代人与中国有着深深地缘分，这份传承令人动容。
While showing us photographs at the embassy, Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune shared that 40 years ago, his father served as the first Laos’ Ambassador to China, and 40 years later, he himself holds that same position. The deep ties between two generations and China are truly moving.
此次,小记者们对老挝大使的采访, 不仅对老挝国家有了更深地的了解，同时感受到大使外交风范的亲和力、感染力。采访结束, 每一位小记者都给大使赠送了自己创作的书画作品和家乡的小礼物, 祝福大使先生在中国工作、生活愉快。
Through this interview with the Lao Ambassador, the junior journalists not only gained a deeper understanding of Laos but also experienced the Ambassador’s approachable and inspiring diplomatic manners. At the conclusion of the interview, each junior journalist presented the Ambassador with their own original calligraphy and painting works, as well as small gifts from their hometowns, wishing more happiness in his work and life in China.
