Laos and Vietnam will introduce a one-stop service to handle both customs and immigrations requirements at a key border checkpoint between the two countries next year.
The single service at the Dansawan and Lao Bao checkpoint is planned for the launch in January to facilitate trade flow and personal contacts, the Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday, citing reports from the Lao Foreign Ministry.
The checkpoint borders Laos' Savannakhet province and Quang Tri province of Vietnam.
At present, trucks and buses are required to go through customs and immigration stations on their respective border checkpoints.
The two countries are preparing personnel and facilities for the launch, the Lao newspaper quoted an official of the Economic Affairs Department as saying.
The checkpoint is on Road 9, which is the main thoroughfare for Thai trade with Vietnam and China through central Laos.
Savannakhet is opposite Mukdahan province with a friendship bridge over the Mekong River linking the two neighbours.
Thai exports from Mukdahan to Laos, Vietnam and China were 36.4 billion baht in the fiscal year ending September, a 13% drop year-on-year, according to the Mukdahan customs office. Imports accounted for 29.3 billion baht, an increase of 15%, it said.