On the evening of December 25th, the inauguration ceremony of the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 5 took place, marking a significant milestone in enhancing transportation infrastructure connectivity and promoting trade within the Mekong Subregion.
According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Laos, the event was attended by Lao People’s Revolutionary Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse; King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand and Queen Suthida; high-ranking officials from both Laos and Thailand; leaders of relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities from both sides of the border.
During the ceremony, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized the importance of the project, affirming it as a collaborative effort between the governments of Laos and Thailand, aligned with the aspirations of both governments and peoples, particularly the residents of Bolykhamxay Province (Laos) and Buengkan Province (Thailand). The project facilitates Laos’ integration into the region via the East-West Economic Corridor, significantly improving transportation, trade, and tourism between the two nations, thereby delivering tangible benefits to the people of Laos and Thailand.
The Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 5 spans 1,350 meters across the Mekong River, featuring a modern cable-stayed design, connecting Buengkan Province in Thailand with Bolikhamxay Province in Laos.
The Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 5 spans the Mekong River with a modern cable-stayed design, connecting Buengkan Province in Thailand with Bolikhamxay Province in Laos – Photo: Bangkok Post
The bridge’s opening has significantly reduced travel time from Buengkan Province (Northeast Thailand) through Bolikhamxay Province (Central Laos) to the Cau Treo Border Gate (Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam) to just over 200 km, down from the previous 350 km. This route has become the shortest and most convenient for transporting goods from Buengkan (Thailand) to Ha Tinh (Vietnam), enhancing regional economic connectivity and cross-border trade.
The bridge is expected to unlock numerous economic, trade, investment, and tourism opportunities, not only for the border provinces of Bolikhamxay and Buengkan but also for the entire Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), including Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces.
The Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 5 continues the series of transportation infrastructure collaborations between the two countries, following the four operational bridges: Vientiane – Nongkhai (Bridge No. 1), Savannakhet – Mukdahan (Bridge No. 2), Khamouane – Nakhon Phanom (Bridge No. 3), and Huayxai – Chiangkhong (Bridge No. 4).
As a strategic connector for both transportation and diplomacy, the bridge is anticipated to further deepen the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Thailand, while strengthening ties with Vietnam, contributing to a more dynamic, sustainable, and interconnected Mekong Subregion.
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