The Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution 26 surveyed at Thanh Thuy border gate

On the afternoon of November 19, at Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station (Thanh Chuong), the Central Steering Committee's working delegation, led by Mr. Nguyen Hong Son - Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission, had a working session with Nghe An province on the development of the border gate system.

Attending the meeting were comrades: Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of leaders of departments, branches and sectors at the provincial level and Thanh Chuong district. Photo: Thanh Le

Nghe An province has 468.281 km of national land border with 105 border markers, 44 markers passing through 6 districts, 27 communes in border areas, adjacent to 21 villages, 6 districts of 3 provinces of Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

On the land border gate route, there is 1 Nam Can international border gate; 1 main Thanh Thuy border gate; 3 pairs of secondary border gates: Thong Thu/Que Phong, Tam Hop/Tuong Duong, Cao Veu/Anh Son; 4 border openings (Ta Do/Muong Tip; Buoc Mu/Na Ngoi, Keng Du/Keng Du commune and Xieng Tren/My Ly commune of Ky Son district). The 4 openings are mainly for border residents on both sides to visit relatives, buy and sell, and exchange essential goods for daily life.

Colonel Ho Quyet Thang - Deputy Commander of the Border Guard Command of Nghe An province reported on the development of the border gate system in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Le

Regarding Thanh Thuy border gate (in Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district): This is the end point of National Highway 46 connecting to Nam On border gate (Bolikhamxay province - Laos) and in the land west of Khe Mu village, Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province.

Although the Vietnamese Government has decided to upgrade Thanh Thuy border gate to a main border gate (according to Decision No. 753/QD-TTg dated May 19, 2011 of the Prime Minister on upgrading Thanh Thuy border gate of Nghe An province from a secondary border gate to a main border gate), because the opposite side is Nam On border gate, Xay Cham Phon district, Bolikhamxay province (Laos), the Lao Government has not yet decided to upgrade Nam On border gate (Laos) to a main border gate. Therefore, the two sides have not yet organized the opening ceremony of the pair of border gates. Currently, the operation process of the pair of Thanh Thuy (Vietnam) - Nam On (Laos) border gates is still a pair of secondary border gates.

Delegates discussed the development orientation of the border gate system in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Le

The governments of Vietnam and Laos have agreed to assign the two countries' Ministries of Transport to study the construction of the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway passing through Thanh Thuy border gate.

Representatives of provincial leaders and departments, branches and sectors of Nghe An province attended the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

The project to build an expressway connecting Hanoi and Vientiane was marked in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Laos on the Transport Cooperation Strategy for the period 2016-2025, with a vision to 2030, signed on September 14, 2015 in Vientiane.

The expressway project from Hanoi - Thanh Thuy - Pac Xan - Vientiane (total length 725km, total investment of about 4.28 billion USD. Of which, the Vientiane - Thanh Thuy border gate section is about 3.67 billion USD, the Thanh Thuy - Vinh border gate section is about 0.61 billion USD). When the route is formed, it will open up many prospects in promoting economic development not only of both Vietnam - Laos but also of countries in the region.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee discussed issues of concern to the working delegation. Photo: Thanh Le

The route will meet the demand for increased two-way trade between the two countries and create the premise for Laos to become a regional freight transit center. The opening of the expressway connecting the two capitals will be a combination, taking advantage of Laos' central position in ASEAN and Vietnam's seaport advantages.

This project has been jointly committed by the two Governments and assigned to the Ministry of Transport (Vietnam) and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Laos) to preside over and advise on implementation. At the same time, the two sides are mobilizing ODA capital from the Japanese Government for project implementation through organizations such as JICA and ADB.

The Central Steering Committee's working delegation attended the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

If invested, the route will combine with other expressways in Thailand and Myanmar to form a new East-West economic corridor connecting from the Pacific Ocean (Vietnam's deep-water ports) to the Indian Ocean (Myanmar's Dawei port).

Besides, there are some advantages such as: Choosing to build the Hanoi - Thanh Thuy - Pac Xan - Vientiane expressway has the straightest and shortest route, passing through terrain and geology favorable for the implementation of expressway construction.

Comrade Nguyen Hong Son - Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

The selection of direction and route of the Hanoi - Thanh Thuy - Pac Xan - Vientiane project is an option agreed upon by the two governments of Vietnam and Laos, in accordance with the policies, agreements and treaties signed between the two countries.

When this project has capital and is implemented in practice, the problem of infrastructure and traffic connecting the two sides will be solved, therefore, upgrading Thanh Thuy main border gate into an international border gate will be very convenient for both sides.

The working group directly surveyed at Thanh Thuy border gate. Photo: Thanh Le

Through the discussion of the delegates, comrade Nguyen Hong Son - Deputy Head of the Central Economic Committee emphasized that the development of Thanh Thuy border gate not only connects trade with Laos and other countries in the ASEAN region, but also ensures the security and defense of the province.

He suggested that Nghe An province continue to collect complete information related to the development of Thanh Thuy border gate to have a basis for proposing necessary issues to competent authorities.