A staff member organizes items at the "Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Oct. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

VIENTIANE, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The "Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" officially opened in Lao capital Vientiane last August, alongside the launch of intangible cultural heritage skills training courses for Chinese and Lao women.

Chansamone Senghalath, deputy director of Lao Women's Training Center, told Xinhua recently that this project, jointly established by the China Women's Development Foundation and the Lao Women's Training Center, has provided Lao women with new opportunities to enhance their professional skills, boost employment and increase income.

The workshop has transformed successful Chinese experiences into structured training programs, significantly enhancing Lao women's ability to participate in socioeconomic development.

Chansamone said the most pressing challenge currently facing the Lao Women's Union is helping impoverished women across the country escape poverty and ensuring that women of all ethnic groups can secure stable jobs and incomes.

She emphasized that international cooperation and external support play a crucial role in addressing these issues. "China's experience and support in women's development are particularly valuable to us."

During the August training session, participants from across Laos gathered to learn traditional crafts such as bamboo and rattan weaving from Chinese instructors. The course covered the entire process, from preparing raw materials to producing finished products, including bamboo selection, cutting, scraping, polishing, and disinfection.

In just three days, participants successfully learned to craft practical items such as bamboo and rattan trays and tissue boxes.

"The trainees' craftsmanship reflects a unique Lao cultural style but lacks advanced technical support and modern design concepts," said Chansamon. "Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from Guangxi and Guizhou in China provide hands-on instruction. They not only teach weaving techniques with distinctive Chinese cultural characteristics but also guide the trainees in integrating diverse cultural elements with modern design concepts."

"This detailed knowledge helps ensure the quality of bamboo strips and makes the handicrafts more durable and refined," said Bang Outhipvongxay, a trainee. She told Xinhua that during the course, she learned to weave practical items such as trays, flower pots, and pencil cases using bamboo and rattan.

"I will pass on the skills and knowledge I learned from Chinese teachers to my fellow Laotian sisters to help them improve their skills and increase their income," said Bang. "I hope to have more opportunities for high-quality training from our Chinese counterparts in the future."

In addition to short-term skills training, both China and Laos are focusing on long-term development. With funding from the China Women's Development Foundation and support from the Lao Women's Union, the "Genius Mom" handicraft showroom in Vientiane has been comprehensively upgraded, becoming more standardized and visually appealing, while incorporating elements of both Chinese and Lao cultures.

"This exhibition hall is not only a platform for preserving intangible cultural heritage but also a window for Lao women to share experiences and showcase their work," said Chansamone.

She added that the trainees will take the skills and knowledge gained from the training back to their communities, passing them on to other women and helping them collectively increase their incomes.

Organizers and participants of the training session believe that the "Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" serves not only as a bridge for cultural exchange between Lao and Chinese women, but also as a tangible example of building a shared future for Laos and China. They expressed strong hopes for long-term cooperation with China to create more platforms that empower women in both countries. ■

A staff member operates a sewing machine at the "Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Oct. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows the interior view of the"Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows the interior view of the"Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows the interior view of the"Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows the main entrance of the "Genius Mom Friendship Workshop" in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)