Thailand, Laos bridges Mekong River on 4th location

BANGKOK, December 12 (TNA) - Thailand and neighbouring Laos cemented their fourth friendship bridge over the Mekong River on December 12, 2012 or the once-in-a-century auspicious 12-12-12 date. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, as well as government officials, business operators and people of both countries attended a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon to cement both parts of the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, linking Chiang Kong District of Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province with Houei Xai of Laos' Bokeo province. However, the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge has not yet been opened, as its construction completion has been postponed from this month to mid-2013 due to financial problems. The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge links Thailand's northeastern Nong Khai province with Vientiane, Laos' capital. The Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connects Thailand's northeastern Mukdahan province with Laos' Savannakhet province. The Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge spans the Mekong River from Thailand's northeastern Nakhon Phanom province with Laos' Khammouane province. The two-lane, 480-meter-long Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, with its construction costs set at some 1.6 billion baht, funded equally-half by Thailand and China, is part of the North-South Economic Corridor, which will facilitate transportation from Thailand via Laos to China. According to the deputy Thai premier, the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, once opened, will likely boost trade, investment and tourism in the region as it will adjoin the R3A route toward southern China. (TNA)