A workshop on "combating fake news for journalists" in the second phase, funded by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, kicked off here on Thursday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day workshop, Cambodian Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith expressed his profound thanks to China for funding the workshop through the LMC Special Fund, saying that the workshop was vital to empowering journalists in combating fake news.

"The purpose of this workshop is to provide information officers and journalists with a better understanding of challenges and work involved in the fight against fake news," he said.

During the workshop, national and international experts will give presentations on information and media literacy in the context of the digital age, information verification work, and creation of a safe environment on social media networks, he added.

Cambodian government's senior advisor Sok Siphana, chairman of the National Secretariat of Cambodia for the LMC, said that "I want to specially recognize the Chinese government for its support to finance the second phase of this project under the LMC Special Fund."

China initiated the LMC Special Fund in 2016 with the aim of supporting small and medium-sized cooperation projects put forward by six LMC countries.

Siphana said the LMC Special Fund has importantly contributed to the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region.

The Lancang-Mekong countries consist of China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.