HANOI, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Ministry of Transport (MoT) and Laotian Ministry of Public Works and Transport have agreed to carry out the next step of a project to build a highway connecting the two countries' capitals Hanoi and Vientiane in 2017.
Accordingly, Vietnam and Laos will set up a research team, work with sponsors and call for more investment for the project. A feasibility report on the project will be soon made to further affirm necessity and define scope as well as investment stages of the project, local Dan Tri (Knowledge for People) online newspaper quoted MoT as saying on Thursday.
Regarding another project on the 500 km-long railway that links Vientiane to Vung Ang Industrial Zone in Vietnam's central Ha Tinh Province, the two countries have pledged to closely coordinate to finish a feasibility study this year.
In a memorandum of understanding on transport cooperation for 2016-2025 signed between the Vietnamese and Lao governments in September 2015, the two sides defined the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway and the Vientiane-Vung Ang railway route as strategic projects that need to be carried out shortly to boost bilateral trade.
These projects are expected to boost trade for both Vietnam and Laos, and are the first step to help Laos become a regional freight hub, reported Dan Tri.
