VIENTIANE, June 12 (Xinhua): The Lao government has recently approved the route selection for Vientiane-Pakse Expressway Project recommended by a Chinese engineering company.
Zhang Xiaowei, head of the international engineering department of Henan Provincial Communications Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. (HNRBI), which suggested the route plan, told Xinhua on Friday that the expressway linking Lao capital Vientiane and the southern Lao hub Pakse, is the southern section of the north-south expressway of Laos.
The Vientiane-Pakse Expressway with the length of about 578.6 km is estimated to cost around US$5.1 billion for its construction.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos previously reviewed route selection for Vientiane-Pakse Expressway Project and finally determined the route plan designed by the HNRBI in March. On Monday, the Lao Prime Minister's Office formally approved the plan.
In 2018, several Chinese companies including China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the Lao government signed an MOU on the joint construction of the Vientiane-Pakse Expressway.
Formerly, the Vientiane-Vangvieng Expressway, part of the northern section of the north-south expressway of Laos and the first expressway in Laos, jointly constructed by the Lao government and China's Yunnan Construction and Investment Holding Group, was inaugurated in December, 2020. E- Xinhua
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