CHIANG RAI (Manager Daily)- The new Thailand-Laos friendship bridge to be build across the Mekong in the north is now being under study and soon to be concluded by the Lao side, said Thailand’s deputy minister, Suwaj Liptapallop.
When constructed the new bridge will connect the already developed highway system in Thailand with Route 3 (R3e) road in northern Laos, which is one part of the North-South Economic Corridor highway plan to link China’s robust southwestern region with the rest of Southeast Asia.
According to an initial study, the new bridge will be built in Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong district which faces Laos’ Huay Xay district of Bokeo province on the other side.The exact location of the bridge is under consideration, Mr. Suwat said during an inspection trip to this northern province this week.
The new friendship bridge will open a new route from Thailand to the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, as well as other provinces up north to Boten on the Lao-Chinese border in Luang
Namtha province.
Thailand, Laos, and China have entered an agreement to build the bridge. Mr. Suwat said each country will contribute an equal sum of budget fund to finance the construction. While the Thai and Chinese governments have already set aside the budget, Laos is yet to make decision.
Route 3, being upgraded into a highway, has a total length of 1,887 kilometres. The highway starts in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, stretches to Laos’ Luang Namtha and
Bokeo provinces.
Once finished, the highway will open a new route of trade and tourism to and from southern China, which will boost economic and trade cooperation among the three countries.
When constructed the new bridge will connect the already developed highway system in Thailand with Route 3 (R3e) road in northern Laos, which is one part of the North-South Economic Corridor highway plan to link China’s robust southwestern region with the rest of Southeast Asia.
According to an initial study, the new bridge will be built in Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong district which faces Laos’ Huay Xay district of Bokeo province on the other side.The exact location of the bridge is under consideration, Mr. Suwat said during an inspection trip to this northern province this week.
The new friendship bridge will open a new route from Thailand to the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, as well as other provinces up north to Boten on the Lao-Chinese border in Luang
Namtha province.
Thailand, Laos, and China have entered an agreement to build the bridge. Mr. Suwat said each country will contribute an equal sum of budget fund to finance the construction. While the Thai and Chinese governments have already set aside the budget, Laos is yet to make decision.
Route 3, being upgraded into a highway, has a total length of 1,887 kilometres. The highway starts in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, stretches to Laos’ Luang Namtha and
Bokeo provinces.
Once finished, the highway will open a new route of trade and tourism to and from southern China, which will boost economic and trade cooperation among the three countries.