Vietnam, Laos affirm close cooperation in transport

Vietnamese Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang and Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Bounchanh Sinthavong reviewed transport cooperation between the two countries in recent time and defined tasks in the next period.

They agreed to promote transport infrastructure connectivity between the two countries through the early signing of the Vietnam-Laos Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperative strategy in transport in the 2016-2025 period with visions towards 2030, and the opening of a transnational transport route connecting Ha Tinh (Vietnam), Khammouane (Laos) and Nakhon Phanom (Thailand) provinces.

They pledged to promptly complete the investment research of a railway project linking Vientiane–Tha Khet (Laos) and Mu Gia-Tan Ap–Vung Ang (Vietnam), while closely working in the prefeasibility study for the highway route between Vientiane–Pac San (Laos) and Thanh Thuy (Vietnam).

On behalf of the Lao Government, Minister of Public Works and Transport Bounchanh Sinthavong presented the Independent Order, first class, to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport, the Independent Order, second class, to Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang and the Labour Order, first class, to Deputy Minister Le Dinh Tho in honour of their contribution to the development of two countries’ transport sectors.