post about the proposed friendship bridge

Burma and Laos Agree Friendship Bridge Deal
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By THE IRRAWADDY Friday, March 23, 2012


http://www.irrawaddy.org/articlefiles/23271-Burma-Laos670.jpg

A new friendship bridge will be built between Burma and Laos across the Mekong River. (Photo: LZAC)


Burma and Laos have signed a deal to build a friendship bridge spanning the Mekong River amongst a raft of measures to deepen trade and cooperation between the two nations.

Burmese President Thein Sein witnessed the deal on Thursday when he arrived in Laos capital Vientiane for a two-day visit at the bequest of his Laos counterpart Choummaly Sayasone.

The two presidents also agreed to reopen direct flights between Vientiane and either Rangoon or Naypyidaw in order to mutually boost tourism.

“Importantly, both sides should push towards realizing the construction of the friendship bridge,” the Laos president was quoted by the Vientiane Times.

“We are confident that the government and people of Burma will be able to overcome any difficulties and reach their desired destination.”

The friendship bridge agreement was signed by Burmese Minister of Construction Khin Maung Myint and Laos Minister of Public Works and Transport Sommad Pholsena. It is due to be constructed between Xiengkok in Luang Namtha Province, Laos, and Kainglap in Burma.

Industrial sectors which both nations already have considerable interests—such as agriculture and mining—are also understood to have been discussed at the meeting.

Both nations also agreed to cooperate further on border security and joint development along the Mekong River.

China, Laos, Burma and Thailand have been working together for joint patrols, intelligence sharing and armed escorts along the waterway in recent months after 13 Chinese crewmen were killed in a pirate attack last year.

Thein Sein also responded positively to Choummaly's proposal that Burma should join the Mekong River Commission as a permanent member, according to reports.

Laos is preparing to host the ninth Asean Summit in Vientiane this November with Burma about to assume the bloc chair in 2014

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=23271

this bridge would be great for connesting Mandalay to Hanoi

Work on Laos-Myanmar bridge to start soon

Laos and Myanmar will begin building a friendship bridge across the Mekong River next month, providing the first road link between the two neighbouring countries with the aim of boosting trade, investment and travel in the region.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr Sommad Pholsena led a Lao delegation to Myanmar for talks on January 8-10 to discuss the bridge construction project with Myanmar officials.

It was decided that a ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge will take place next month, linking the Xiengkok river port in Luang Namtha province in Laos with Kainglap in Myanmar.

The bridge will be 660 metres in length and 9 metres wide excluding sidewalks, but it is unclear how much the project will cost or when it will be completed as the bidding process is yet to be concluded.

During bilateral talks which took place on January 9, the two sides discussed and agreed upon various technical aspects of the bridge.

The Lao border with Myanmar is defined by the Mekong River, which flows from southern China to the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam.

The two countries established diplomatic ties in July, 1955, but the volume of trade between Laos and Myanmar is small compared to that with Laos' other neighbours.

The leaders of the two countries agreed that the bridge will help to boost the volume of commodity flows between Laos and Myanmar and facilitate business and tourism activities in the area.

In fact, the leaders of Laos and Myanmar have been planning a friendship bridge for a decade or so , to allow their peoples to trade and make visits.

The project became more realistic when Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong visited Myanmar in 2011 to discuss the bridge and improved road connectivity between the two countries.

The long awaited construction agreement between the two governments was signed early last year.

During his visit to Myanmar, Mr Sommad called on Myanmar's President U Thein Sein to further their cooperative and good neighbourly relations. The Lao minister thanked the Myanmar president for his warm welcome and for his advice regarding the construction of the friendship bridge.

Mr Sommad also informed the president about the outcome of the bilateral talks which agreed to set the date of the ground-breaking ceremony for next month, to mark the start of construction.

It is envisaged that the bridge will not only boost trade and investment but will also lead to mutual understanding between the peoples of Laos and Myanmar, which will enhance cooperation in the years to come.





By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 14, 2013)
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http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Work_on.htm
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Laos, Myanmar begin bridge (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/336551/laos-myanmar-begin-bridge-construction)
ฺBangkok Post 18 Feb 2013 at 20.42

Laos and Myanmar have begun the construction of the first bridge to link their countries, and expect to complete it in 2015.

The building of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River between Laos' Luang Namtha province and Shan state in Myanmar was launched after the two countries held a ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, The Vientiane Times reported on Monday.

The construction cost is US$18 million (540 million baht) and the two governments aim to use it to boost trade and investment, and enhance cooperation.

Luang Namtha governor Phimmasone Leuangkhamma, Lao Public Works and Transport Minister Sommad Pholsena and Myanmar's Construction Minister Kyaw Lwin presided over the ceremony.

The bridge will be 690 metres long and 10 metres wide and will have two vehicle lanes and two sidewalks. Construction of the bridge will take 30 months to complete.

Xaysongkham Manotham, director of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge Project, said the bridge will be a new symbol of cooperation, relations and solidarity between the two countries.
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^^^
Here is Thai version of the news about the laying of the corner stone for the 18-Million Dollar Friendship bridge across Mekhong between Ban Huay Kum, Mueang long, Luang Namtha Province of LPDR and Mueang Chang Larb [AKA Wiang Kwaen Sa, or Muang Khong/Khong Khong], Thachilek Province of Shan State, Burma. Burmese government paying 50% of the cost while Lao government paying the rest.

The bridge has a width of 10.9 meter with a length of 691.60 meter with 2 traffic lanes [8.5 meter for each lane] with footpaths on both side with the width of 1.20 meter. This bridge can accept the Ten-Wheel trucks with the max weight of 75 ton and it can withstand the Richter 7 earthquake ... and the height of the bridge will allow the boat of 599 ton gross to pass. They expect to open the bridge within 30 months after laying the corner stone - August 2015

This bridge will connect to Highway 17E of Laos to allow the truck to go to either Vietnam of China via R3A Highway while on Burmese side will connect with R3B Highway that allow the trucks from Laos, China and Vietnam to go to Burma, India and Bangladesh.

This is the moving forward project which is rarely seen ... it is also the way to open the hinterland of both Laos and Burma to the outside world


http://www.manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9560000021243