A ground-breaking ceremony took place in Laos’ Houaphan province to mark the start of construction on a 61km road linking Laos’ Viengthong district with Sop Cop border gate in Vietnam’s northern Son La province.

The ceremony was jointly held by Houaphan’s Department of Transport and Chitchareune Company run by Vietnamese in Laos.

According to Chitchareune’s General Director Nguyen The Hien, the three-year project will cost 52 million USD.

Speaking at the event, Houaphan province’s Governor Khamhung Huongvongsi stressed the practical importance of the project, saying that once complete it will fuel local economic development, while broadening trade links between the province and other localities, including Vietnam’s northern provinces .

He pledged to direct relevant local agencies to ensure the quality and progress of the project.-VNA