Journalists from six neighboring countries met for four days last week to discuss common issues and compare stories of regional significance.

The journalists, from the Mekong sub-region countries of Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam met to review works on issues ranging from bird flu, smuggling, AIDS, the environment and culture.

Johanna Son, director of the Inter-Press Service Asia-Pacific, which organized the meeting, told VOA Khmer the event was meant to balance news coverage in the region.

More stories were happening in Cambodia than told through foreign media, she said.

"This program is to help correct this unbalance by giving some training to journalists from these countries," she said. 

One participant, Sroy Ny Ka, a reporter for the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper, called the meeting of regional journalists "useful," especially when journalists faced stories that crossed borders. He reported on cock fighting and bird flu for the forum.

Thai journalist Chrkra Vathdy Buckalee said the forum offered a chance for journalists to learn from each other. She wrote about a lingering haze that affects the air of both Thailand and Laos.