Thai – Laos commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1st Thai – Laos Friendship Bridge . Value of trade passing Friendship Bridge accounts for over 33 % of the total border trade between Thailand and Laos.
Deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, Panpree Bahiddha-Nukara, co-hosted the ceremony to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Nong Khai-Vientiane)
With Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith. As well as the first assistant secretary, Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia Robyn Mudie.
The ceremony marked the beginning of a series of activities to be jointly organised by Nong Khai and Vientiane to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the bridge.
The ministry invited members of the diplomatic corps in Thailand to join the event to showcase the tourism and economic potentials of Nong Khai and its adjacent provinces.
The ministry also highlights the strategic importance of the bridge in regional transportation and logistical connectivity.
The value of trade passing through this bridge accounts for over 33 % of the total border trade between Thailand and Laos.
The bridge is therefore the most important channel for cross-border trade between the two countries, and has played a crucial role in promoting local economic activities, stimulating investment and creating jobs and income for the population on both sides of the Mekong River.
The bridge also plays a crucial role in connecting the transportation networks of the two countries and the region. It is the only friendship bridge between Thailand and its neighbouring countries that features both road and rail systems.
New railway bridge will be built
Thai and Laos governments are working on a project to construct a new railway bridge alongside the current bridge in anticipation of future cross-border rail freight that may exceed the capacity of the current rail track on the bridge.
The project is expect to begin in 2026 and be complete by 2029.
Multi-modal transshipment centres will also be develop on both sides of the bridge, at Natha Rail Station on the Thai side, to handle both road and rail freights.
The new railway bridge will also connect with the high-speed rail from Bangkok to Nong Khai.
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