The third Thailand - Laos friendship bridge spanning Mekong riverwas inaugurated in Muong town, Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand onNov. 11.
The 1.4km long bridge, connecting Muong town and Laos ’ Khammoune province.
The bridge, which was built since 2009, is part of the Asia highwayand the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong economic cooperation strategy. Itis expected to become a gateway to boost trade exchange betweenThailand and Laos , Vietnam and south China .
Thefirst friendship bridge, built in 1994, connected the capital city ofLaos , Vientiane and Thai Noong Khai province, while the second one,linking Thailand ’s Mukdahan province, and Laos ’ Savannakhetprovince was put into operation in 2006.
The Thaigovernment said early this year that it plans to build two more bridgesspanning Mekong river to boost economic, trade, investment, culture andtourism sectors in the region./.