Laos, Thailand, and China are thinking about building a new railway bridge, running parallel to the first Lao-Thai friendship bridge, to assist the cross-border transport of containers, according to the Lao media.
Laos enjoyed increasing trade surplus in three consecutive months of this year, despite the continuing depreciation of the Kip and rising costs of production and consumables.
Thai cabinet has asked the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to quickly design and build a second bridge from Nong Khai province to Laos, to connect to the new China-Laos railway.
Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has said that the new Laos-China railway, which will start running from December 2, should serve as a good delivery channel for the agriculture industry.
Despite trading difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Laos' buffalo and cattle exports could exceed 200 million USD this year, according to the Vientiane Times.
Ticket prices on the Laos-China railway will be cheaper than travel over the same distance by road, with the price beginning at 350 kip (0.035 USD)/person/kilometre, while the travel time will be much shorter.
Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh said on October 6 that the China-Laos Railway will open on December 2 this year as scheduled, according to Vientiane Times.
The Laos-China railway will be put into operation in December 2021, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport Lattanamany Khounnyvong said on May 29.
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