Bamboo weaving workshop builds Lao-Chinese cultural ties

From July 27 until August 2, the Lao Handicraft Association and the China Cultural Centre in Laos organised a workshop in Vientiane province to teach participants new weaving techniques. The course was led by three professional bamboo weavers and trainers from the Chinese province Sichuan and was attended by 36 people from different provinces of Laos. The workshop is part of the 'Vist Laos-China Year 2019'. The work of the trainees was exhibited during the final session in the Lao Women's Training Centre of the Lao Women's Union in Vientiane. All participants received a certificate for their attendance of and effort during the so-called workshop "Lao-Chinese cultural exchange on bamboo weaving". 

According to Mr. Hansana Sisane, President of the Lao Handicraft Association, this workshop was an important and meaningful gathering to promote the cultural exchange between Lao and Chinese people through the art of bamboo weaving. It provided the participants with new skills in bamboo weaving and with new marketing strategies to promote products. Additionally to the latter, Lao people normally use bamboo items for daily lives purposes and not for souvenirs. Therefore, the workshop taught the participants to make bamboo gift items and ornamental pieces as well. This could help them to earn additional income in the future. Besides, bamboo is a safe and environmentally friendly product and more people should use bamboo products instead of plastic products. As such, it can be interesting for bamboo weavers to learn more weaving skills in order to make a wider range of products and items that are more attractive than the plastic ones. 

Ms. Ding Qing, Head of the China Cultural Centre in Laos, adds that the workshop was meant to exchange Lao and Chinese bamboo weaving techniques, knowledge and culture. As Laos is a bamboo-producing country and bamboo can be found in many households, three bamboo artisans from the city of bamboo in China (Sichuan) shared their knowledge with the Lao bamboo artisans. The Chinese artisans described the art of their bamboo weaving, the techniques they use and the designs and types they make. The artisans also explained how bamboo weavers could increase their income by expanding the bamboo industry. This way, bamboo products will not only serve as important tools in daily life but as traditional handicraft products as well. Tourists could then take home bamboo products from Laos and showcase the country's traditional handicraft to the world. 

The organizers of the workshop hope that the event will support the development of the Lao bamboo handicraft sector and the creation of more beautiful products, what could result increased incomes and boost tourism in Laos. 

Information source: Vientiane Times.