France And Thailand Work On Bridge To Laos

[george]

France and Thailand work on bridge to Laos

France and Thailand yesterday agreed to jointly fund the construction of a railway to link Nong Khai to Vientiane's Tha Nalaeng district in Laos, Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said yesterday.

Pierre-Andre Wiltzer, minister delegate for cooperation and Francophony affairs of France, yesterday met with Surakiart to discuss trilateral cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS).

"The railway will serve as a symbol of Thai and French cooperation in developing a third country," said Surakiart, adding each party may contribute equal funding for the US$5-million (Bt195 million) project.

Previously, Laos had asked the Thai government for $4 million for a 3-kilometre stretch over the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River to Tha Nalaeng district, which is located some 30km from the heart of Vientiane.

With assistance from Paris, construction of the railway is expected to begin in six months, Surakiart said, adding that another follow-up project would be to construct a road to link the railway in Tha Nalaeng district to Vientiane.

Agence Francaise du Developpement, a French agency for development, has been granted permission from its government to set up a branch in Bangkok to oversee its development cooperation in the GMS, he said.

Thailand and France are expected to launch a 10-year plan to enhance cooperation on trade, investment, infrastructure and tourism when Surakiart visits the European country in May.

The plan would expand to neighbouring countries in the region, he said.

--The Nation 2004-02-20