<|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|>Assures reporters will not be blocked from covering Asean summit in Vientiane.
Laos yesterday defended its latest regulations imposed on foreign journalists, saying it would not prevent foreign media from covering the 2016 Asean due to<wm> the existing laws and practices of the region.

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry statement, made on behalf of the Central Military Commission, stated that the Ministry of Information and Communications made no special exemptions. Instead, it had issued an official statement, and required all media and their foreign correspondents to register with the Ministry of Information.

If Laos is unwilling to register and does not use all necessary permits, the Ministry warned foreign media that their reports could suffer consequences. All foreign correspondents are bound by local regulations.

</wm>Foreign journalists are only allowed to submit a notification to the Ministry of Information by July 14 to register