VIENTIANE: Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith has urged a visiting Chinese delegation to support Laos’ push to complete the Vientiane-Boten Expressway, linking the Lao capital with the Chinese border, by 2030.
The toll expressway’s first section - connecting Vientiane to Vangvieng district in Vientiane province - was completed and opened for use in December 2020.
Welcoming the delegation led by the Deputy Governor of China’s Yunnan province, Xu Hao, on Sept 24, Saleumxay sought his support to push for approval of the remaining sections of the expressway connecting Vangvieng to Boten on the border with China.
The 440-km road is divided into four sections. The Vientiane-Vangvieng section is already in use and has become a vital route between Vientiane and Vangvieng.
Surveys of the remaining three sections, which will pass through the mountainous terrain of northern Laos, have been completed.
Section 2 will run from Vangvieng to the world heritage town of Luang Prabang and foster connectivity between the two popular tourism hotspots.
Section 3 will link Luang Prabang to Oudomxay province, according to a report citing the Laos-China Joint Expressway Development Co Ltd, the developer of the project.
Section 4 will run from Oudomxay to Boten - a border crossing on the Lao side that links with China’s Mohan border gate.
The project is being built and operated under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.
In addition to the expressway, Mr Saleumxay sought support from his guest to intensify joint efforts to implement cooperation projects agreed on by the governments of the two countries, leveraging the Laos-China Railway, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Saleumxay, who is in charge of economic affairs, underscored the need for both sides to work together to upgrade border checkpoints and streamline procedures to facilitate cross-border movement of people and cargo in order to boost trade and bolster tourism.
He encouraged more entrepreneurs from Yunnan and other parts of China to invest in Laos and expressed the hope that more Chinese visitors will opt to come to the country for vacations.
Xu Hao, who paid a working trip to Laos to enhance ties and broaden cooperation between his province and Laos, thanked his host for the warm hospitality extended to him and the delegation. - Vientiane Times/ANN
