VIENTIANE Thailand and Laos have agreed to build a new bridge over the Mekong River.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shakes hands with leaders in the region during the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs) meeting in Vientiane, Laos, yesterday. Thailand has expressed support for the infrastructure development of the Acmecs group to increase the potential of trade, investment and tourism with other regions.
The bridge would help improve infrastructure and boost trade in the region, the countries say.
The agreement was reached yesterday by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her host, Lao Premier Thongsing Thammavong on the sidelines of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs) summit in Vientiane.
A feasibility study for the bridge will be conducted, Ms Yingluck's secretary, Suranand Vejjajiva, said.
The bridge will be built between Bung Kan in Thailand and Borikhamxay in Laos _ the fifth bridge linking the two countries.
The fourth friendship bridge is now under construction between Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai and Bokeo province in northern Laos.
Thailand is also backing other infrastructure projects aimed at boosting trade, investment and tourism in both countries. It backs a plan to build two roads between Nan and northern Laos. The roads could connect Thailand with Luang Prabang and southern China.
Ms Yingluck said Thailand will start building a 6km railway link between Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo to Poipet. The link falls under an Association of Southeast Asian Nations plan to promote road and rail links among its members.
She urged all Acmecs member countries to help ease border crossings for people and goods and to upgrade border checkpoints.
Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar are also members of Acmecs.
Thailand earlier hosted a meeting with Laos and Vietnam to tackle border problems.
They discussed the border checkpoints between Mukdahan and Savannakhet in Laos, and between Lao Bao in Vietnam and Dan Sawan in Laos.
Myanmar and Cambodia will be invited to the next meeting, the prime minister said. Ms Yingluck has called on other Acmecs leaders to make it easier for people and goods to travel on roads beyond the Greater Mekong Sub-region scheme.
She highlighted the checkpoints linking Thailand and Myanmar in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai, Mae Sot district in Tak and Pu Nam Ron in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district.
Thailand would provide Acmecs members with 200 additional scholarships across various fields to train workers and boost development across the region.
Thailand has also supported the development of health services along its borders by helping set up health stations and training medical staff.
The Acmecs summit also agreed to cooperate on rice trade by establishing common standards and market-sharing to make food more secure.
Thailand invited Acmecs members to help innovate and develop alternative energy beyond bio-energy.
Ms Yingluck yesterday witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a contract farming scheme between Thailand and Laos, and another MoU on the establishment of the Thai-Cambodian Business Council.