Road for truck transport to link Laos, Vietnam, Thailand in June

hree neighboring Southeast Asian countries will jointly open highway routes for truck transportation aimed at facilitating lower-cost freight transport beginning June 19.

The route will link Thailand’s northeastern province of Mukdahan with Savannakhet city and the Dansavan border trade zone in Xepon District of Laos’ Savannakhet Province, and continue to Lao Bao Town in Viet Nam.

The total distance from Mukdahan to Lao Bao is about 500 kilometers and takes about 10.5 hours to travel, the report said.

Thai officials will cooperate with Lao and Asian Development Bank (ADB) authorities to provide training on left- and right-hand driving as the three countries do not follow the same driving system, the report quoted a Thai official as saying.

The special driver training sessions will be held in late April in Mukdahan and in Savannakhet.

The road is part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) accord agreed to by the three countries in Viet Nam last month.

Source: thanhnien

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Vietnam, Laos strike mineral exploration deal

Vietnam and Laos signed an agreement in Vientiane on March 10 to explore for tin, zinc and lead ore in the northern Lao province of Houphanh.


The agreement stipulates that the Vietnamese Thien Phu company will invest US$3 million to explore for minerals in a 500km2 area over the next 5 years.

If the project proves feasible, the company will submit a further proposal to the Lao government to conduct further negotiations.

Source: VNN

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Vietnamese Investment in Laos Promotion Seminar Held in Northen Laos

On December 17th, a seminar to promote Vietnamese investment in Laos was held in the Hua Phan Province, and four other provinces, of Northern Laos.

The seminar was attended by Lao Government Standing Deputy Prime Minister Sonxavat Lengsavat. and Party Central Committee Member and Head of the PCC Commission of Propaganda and Training To Huy Rua.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the seminar, the Lao Minister of Planning and Investment said that, between 2004 and 2007, Laos’ annual economic growth had reached an average above 8%, and that its GDP growth was 7.8% so far in 2008. In the past several years, more than USD 9 billion has been poured in Laos. Vietnam itself invested US$ 1.02 billion in Laos, making it number 1 among the 37 countries and territories currently investing in Loas. In Hua Phan Province alone, between 2006 and 2008, Vietnam invested in 31 projects, worth more than US$ 10 million.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Sonxavat Lengsavat, in his speech, affirmed that Vietnam’s investment in the Northern provinces of Laos had played a strategic role for both countries and will help to further develop good Vietnam – Lao relations.

Political ministries from both countries pledged to intensify resolutions to speed up Vietnam and Lao’s investment in hydroelectricity power generation in order to reach a capacity of 5,000-7,000 MW, as well as investment in rubber plantation and cattle feedstock processing.

Moreover, the two sides pledged to enhance their two-way trade exchange from US$ 400 million at present to US$ 1 billion in 2010 and US$ 2 billion in 2015.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. To Huy Rua noted that the special solidarity between Vietnam and Lao is always a significant factor for the two countries to win success in the building of socialization and national protection. (CPV)

Source: vnbusinessnews

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Vietnam, Cambodia looking to the future

26 Nov 2008
Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and his Cambodian guest Samdech Chea Sim, President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Senate President, held talks in Hanoi on Nov. 25 to discuss measures to strengthen and develop the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States.
The Cambodian leader is making an official visit to Vietnam from Nov. 25-27.

During the talks, Party leader Manh appreciated the visit by his Cambodian counterpart, calling it a political event of great significance, contributing to strengthening and developing the traditional friendship and neighbourly cooperation that exists between the two countries.

He congratulated the Cambodian people on their outstanding achievements in a number of fields during recent years, particularly the successful organisation of the fourth national assembly elections.

He wished the Cambodian people further successes in building Cambodia into a peaceful, independent, democratic, progressive and prosperous nation, contributing to the peace, stability, cooperation and development of the Southeast Asian region and the world.

The Party leader expressed his deep gratitude for the sentiments, support and assistance the Cambodian Party and people have granted to Vietnam .

He referred to the close amity between the two Parties and States as an invaluable quality, built on a firm foundation and fostered throughout a series of challenges during their long-term struggle for national liberation and construction.

Party General Secretary Manh stressed the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy to respect and do their utmost to maintain and enhance the traditional friendship and long-term comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia , adding that it serves as an orientation for relations between the two Parties and States, not just for current times, but also for future generations.

CPP President Chea Sim expressed his admiration at and congratulations on the important achievements the Vietnamese people have recorded during their process of national renewal.

He hoped his neighbours would go on to record further achievements in the cause of industrialisation and modernisation to help transform Vietnam into a country of prosperity, with a democratic and civilised society, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

He also expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their support and assistance to the Cambodian people in the latter’s struggle for national liberation, helping them to put an end to the genocide and re-construct their country.

Samdech Chea Sim said that developing the relationship with Vietnam is one of the top priorities for his country’s foreign policy and pledged to contribute to developing the traditional rapport between the two peoples.

General Secretary Manh and President Chea Sim briefed each other on the situation within their own Parties and countries, exchanged their views on enhancing bilateral relations, and discussed a number of international and regional issues of common concern.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction over the fine development of bilateral relations, and affirmed their determination to deepen and raise this relationship to new heights.

Continuing in this spirit, the two sides stated their common wishes to further high-level contacts in order to encourage and facilitate the expansion of multi-faceted cooperation between the two Parties and States, and to increase exchanges between the two peoples, particularly between the younger generations and localities situated along their common border.

The leaders valued the results achieved at the 10 th session of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific-Technical Cooperation, and the signing of a number of agreements during the recent visit to Vietnam by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

They then expressed their wishes that the two countries would further coordinate in the implementation of the signed agreements in order to give impetus to their bilateral relations.
Source: VNA
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Laos, Cambodia to boost investment cooperation

26 Nov 2008
Laos and Cambodia have agreed to strengthen their friendship and increase bilateral cooperation between the two, particularly in investment relations in the near future.
The Investment Protection Agreement governing this consensus was signed by Lao Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith and his Cambodian counterpart, Ho Nam Hong on November 24.

The agreement was signed during the two-day official visit to Laos by Cambodian Prime Miniter Hun Sen, who is to attend the 5 th summit of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle, taking place in the Lao capital of Vientiane from November 26-27.

On the first day of his stay in Laos, the Cambodian Prime Minister held talks with Lao Prime Minister Buasone Boupphavanh. The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the two countries’ traditional relationship and spoke highly of their mutual assistance in socio-economic matters for the sake of the people of the two countries.

On November 25, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with Lao President Choummaly Xayasone.

Source: VNA

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