A new international border checkpoint linking between the Nong Nok Khiene area in Khong district of Champassak province and the Trapeang Kriel area in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province is scheduled to officially open next month.
In fact the border checkpoint has been open to the public since 2013 after the construction project began in 2010 and was completed three years later, according to the projects Manager Mr. Kittisak Chonghak.
The project cost more than 31 billion kip with the funds provided by the government, including the contribution from the local authorities, Mr. Kittisak told Vientiane Times yesterday.
The two prime ministers of Laos and Cambodia are expected to attend the event to join the cutting of the ribbon to officially open the border checkpoints together after ending the CLV meeting, which will be hosted in Cambodia next month if nothing changes, Mr. Kittisak said.
He noted that the new border checkpoint will not only ease trade and investment between the two countries but also boost tourism, transportation and other frameworks.
Out of the border checkpoints project, the two countries have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation ties, especially in the construction of roads and bridges to develop land links to enhance trade, investment, tourism and transportation between the two nations.
Officials are also planning to build a 145-metre bridge across the Xe Lam Phao River in Mounlapamok district, Champassak province to connect to Cambodia, which is currently under survey.
A planned 78-kilometre road linking Mounlapamok district to the Xe Lam Phao bridge is also under study, according to the provincial Public Works and Transports Department.
The checkpoint’s construction is part of a larger plan to link the two countries with a road and bridge over the Xe Lam Phao river, making it easy to cross between Preah Vihear and Laos’ Champassak province.
Two consulates opened in June and July in Stung Treng for Laos and in Pakse for the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The future checkpoint will then link two of the most beautiful Angkorian archaeological sites: Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia and Vat Phou in Champassak Province in Laos.
The new border checkpoint at the Nong Nok Khiene area in Champassak province and the Trapeang Kriel area in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province is one of many important border checkpoints around the countries to ease tourism, transportation and other frameworks.
The two countries have witnessed many great achievements through their mutual development cooperation, leading to economic growth and a marked improvement in people’s living conditions in both nations.
The two countries have cooperated in the field of human resources development, especially in providing technical assistance and training for Lao students and officials on a short and long-term basis to upgrade their expertise in Cambodia.
The two countries also agreed to promote investment and trade cooperation between their neighbouring provinces after the value of bilateral trade reached US$24.5 million last year.
In addition, the two countries will continue to cooperate in border security and prevent the illegal trade in timber and drugs in border areas. They also agreed to speed up border demarcation.
Source: Vientiane Times
