Authorities in the northern provinces of Laos have been told to prepare for the US$7 billion (more than 57 trillion kip) high-speed railway project, linking Vientiane to the Lao-China border in Luang Namtha province.
Speaking at a meeting held in Luang Prabang province early this week, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs Mr Somsavat Lengsavad instructed relevant authorities in the northern provinces, where the railway line will pass through, to urgently complete demarcating the boundary of the project.
The previous preparations undertaken need to continue particularly those related to social and environmental impact studies, supplying equipment to the project, electricity and training of officials.
The planning is aimed to make easier for the implementation of the project when the governments of Laos and China reach a construction agreement to officially mark the start of the construction.
Mr Somsavat also called for relevant authorities to further explain to local villagers about the significance and benefits the country will gain from this project so they would have a better understanding about the high-speed railway.
However, the exact timeframe when the project will begin construction is still unknown.
The meeting in Luang Namtha province was attended by ministers and other high-ranking officials from Vientiane and other northern provinces.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr Lattanamany Khounnyvong also reported the progress of the project to Deputy PM Somsavat.
He said the governments of Laos and China had begun negotiating and signing the MoU about the project since April 2010. Mr Lattanamany attributed the delay of the project in recent years to the fact that it was so large in scale with a high cost to build it. Therefore, it required detailed studies in relation to technical aspects and forms of investment.
Currently the economic study for the project has completed and some details of the project design have been made.
For Laos, it was considered a project of historical significance aiming to transform the nation from ‘land-locked' to ‘land-linked'.
The government believes the 417-kilometre track will help Laos to better integrate with the region and the world, attracting trade, investment and tourists to the country. Moreover, the railway will help reduce the cost of transporting Lao goods to international markets while encouraging local people to produce more for market needs.
The Thai government recently approved the US$23 billion high-speed rail project connecting the northern border province of Nong Khai with Map Ta Phut, southeast of Bangkok.
Lao government officials said the decision of the Thai government to develop the high-speed rail link would give a boost to the realisation of the railway project in Laos.
The railway in Laos will link with the project in Thailand to form part of the regional rail link known as the Kunming-Singapore rail line covering a total of 3,000km.
Authorities in the northern provinces of Laos have been told to prepare for the US$7 billion (more than 57 trillion kip) high-speed railway project, linking Vientiane to the Lao-China border in Luang Namtha province.
Speaking at a meeting held in Luang Prabang province early this week, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs Mr Somsavat Lengsavad instructed relevant authorities in the northern provinces, where the railway line will pass through, to urgently complete demarcating the boundary of the project.
The previous preparations undertaken need to continue particularly those related to social and environmental impact studies, supplying equipment to the project, electricity and training of officials.
The planning is aimed to make easier for the implementation of the project when the governments of Laos and China reach a construction agreement to officially mark the start of the construction.
Mr Somsavat also called for relevant authorities to further explain to local villagers about the significance and benefits the country will gain from this project so they would have a better understanding about the high-speed railway.
However, the exact timeframe when the project will begin construction is still unknown.
The meeting in Luang Namtha province was attended by ministers and other high-ranking officials from Vientiane and other northern provinces.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr Lattanamany Khounnyvong also reported the progress of the project to Deputy PM Somsavat.
He said the governments of Laos and China had begun negotiating and signing the MoU about the project since April 2010. Mr Lattanamany attributed the delay of the project in recent years to the fact that it was so large in scale with a high cost to build it. Therefore, it required detailed studies in relation to technical aspects and forms of investment.
Currently the economic study for the project has completed and some details of the project design have been made.
For Laos, it was considered a project of historical significance aiming to transform the nation from ‘land-locked' to ‘land-linked'.
The government believes the 417-kilometre track will help Laos to better integrate with the region and the world, attracting trade, investment and tourists to the country. Moreover, the railway will help reduce the cost of transporting Lao goods to international markets while encouraging local people to produce more for market needs.
The Thai government recently approved the US$23 billion high-speed rail project connecting the northern border province of Nong Khai with Map Ta Phut, southeast of Bangkok.
Lao government officials said the decision of the Thai government to develop the high-speed rail link would give a boost to the realisation of the railway project in Laos.
The railway in Laos will link with the project in Thailand to form part of the regional rail link known as the Kunming-Singapore rail line covering a total of 3,000km.
