Vietnam-Laos highway link road inaugurated

Vietnam-Laos highway link road inaugurated

The Vietnam-Laos highway link road was officially inaugurated at a ceremony held at the international border of Panghok in Phongsaly Province yesterday, February 24.

The 68.2 kilometer highway road links Khoa District in Phongsaly Province in Laos to Tay Trang border gate in Dien Bien Province in Vietnam. The project was financed by the Vietnamese government at a total cost of US$43 million.

Attending the inaugural ceremony were Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad and other high ranking officials of the two countries.

In his speech, Dep. PM Phuc highlighted the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation relations between the two countries.

He also stressed that the National Highway was of great strategic importance for both Vietnam and Laos, enhancing trade between the northwestern provinces of Vietnam and the northern provinces of Laos in particular.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad said that the National Highway was of great importance for the socio-economic growth of Laos.

He said this important road would contribute to improving infrastructure and help link Laos to other countries in the region.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Laos, Myanmar begin bridge

Laos, Myanmar begin bridge

Laos and Myanmar have begun the construction of the first bridge to link their countries, and expect to complete it in 2015.

The building of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River between Laos' Luang Namtha province and Shan state in Myanmar was launched after the two countries held a ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, The Vientiane Times reported on Monday.

The construction cost is US$18 million (540 million baht) and the two governments aim to use it to boost trade and investment, and enhance cooperation.

Luang Namtha governor Phimmasone Leuangkhamma, Lao Public Works and Transport Minister Sommad Pholsena and Myanmar's Construction Minister Kyaw Lwin presided over the ceremony.

The bridge will be 690 metres long and 10 metres wide and will have two vehicle lanes and two sidewalks. Construction of the bridge will take 30 months to complete.

Xaysongkham Manotham, director of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge Project, said the bridge will be a new symbol of cooperation, relations and solidarity between the two countries.

~News courtesy of Bangkok Post~

Pakse by the Mekong River 百色湄公河

Lao countryside 寮国乡野

5th Thai-Lao bridge planned

5th Thai-Lao bridge planned

Plans for construction of a 5th Thai-Lao friendship bridge across the Mekong River, between Bung Kan province of Thailand and Pak Sane town of Bolikhamxai province if Laos, will be raised for discussion when Transport Minister Chadchat Suttipunt visits Laos on Feb 21.

Mr Chadchat said he will meet Vietiane's Minister of Communications, Transport, Post and Construction, Sommat Phonsena, and discuss the bridge plan.

The proposed bridge would not only connect the transport networks in the region but also boost the expansion of trade and investment between neighbouring countries.

The Highway Department is making a feasibility study of the Bung Kan - Pak Sane bridge, which would cost an estimated two billion baht, he said.

About 40 million baht would be set aside for the design of the bridge, with construction expected to begin in 2016 if agreement is reached.

There are now four Thai - Lao friendship bridges linking Nong Khai - Vientiane, Mukdahan - Savannakhet, Nakhon Phanom - Khammouane, and Chiang Khong - Huay Sai. The fourth expected to be opened in the middle of this year.

~News courtesy of Bangkok Post~