Lao and Thai PMs naugurate Vientiane-Khamsavath railway station; link between two countries to further boost trade

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin (centre) participated with his counterpart Sonexay Siphandone (centre, behind Srettha) at the opening ceremony of the Vientiane-Khamsavath railway station.

VIENTIANE (Xinhua) : Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and visiting Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attended the opening ceremony of Khamsavath Railway Station on Tuesday (Oct 31), which is a key part of the rail link between the Lao capital city and Thailand's Nong Khai province.

The event was held on Monday as Srettha was on an official visit to Laos at the invitation by his Lao counterpart, Lao News Agency (KPL) reported on Tuesday.

The station, built under Phase II of the Lao-Thai Railway Construction Project, is located in Khamsavath village, Xaysettha district of the Vientiane prefecture.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ngampasong Muongmany, said the Laos-Thailand Phase II railway construction project was financially supported by the government of Thailand through its Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), and expressed Laos' gratitude for the support.

The minister said his ministry will supervise the management and maintenance of Khamsavath Railway Station as well as railway infrastructure to ensure that all parts of the rail link remain fully operational.

Phase II of the Laos-Thailand railway project involved the construction of a rail link from Thanaleng Station, some 20 km east of capital Vientiane and 4km north of the Lao-Thai border on the Mekong River, to Khamsavath Railway Station over a distance of 7.5 kilometers, as well as building access roads to the station. - Xinhua