Promoting Vietnam - Laos economic connectivity through the formation of the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway with a route through Nghe An
Vietnam and Laos are determined to create a breakthrough in economic and investment cooperation by promoting cooperation in infrastructure development, connecting the two economies, especially the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway and the Vung Ang - Vientiane railway.
On the afternoon of August 16 in Cua Lo, Nghe An, a mid-term conference was held to evaluate the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos cooperation plan agreement for 2024 and to review and promote the bilateral cooperation agreement for the 2021-2025 period, co-chaired by leaders of the two countries' Ministries of Planning and Investment.
One of the important contents that the leaders of both sides are very interested in is the need for a breakthrough in economic and investment cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, through promoting public-private cooperation to develop infrastructure, connecting the two economies, especially the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway, the Vung Ang - Vientiane railway to connect Laos to the sea, aviation cooperation, and infrastructure connecting border gates.
Of which, the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project has a total estimated length of about 688 km (new construction of about 406 km, including 345 km in Laos and 61 km in Vietnam from Vinh city to Thanh Thuy border gate (Thanh Chuong district), the remaining part joins the North - South expressway in the East section from Hanoi to Vinh city. The complete scale of the Vientiane - Hanoi expressway has 4 to 6 lanes.
Currently, the Hanoi - Vinh section with a length of about 315 km of the North - South expressway in the 2017-2020 period has been completed and put into use.
The expressway section from Vinh city to Thanh Thuy border gate has been updated in the Road Network Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg dated September 1, 2021, with a scale of 6 lanes.
In Resolution No. 162/NQ-CP dated October 4, 2023 promulgating the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo on construction and development of Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Vinh - Thanh Thuy expressway project was assigned by the Government to the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Nghe An province to preside over implementation in the period of 2026 - 2030 using the State budget and other mobilized sources.
In Decision No. 625/QD-TTg dated July 11, 2024 promulgating the Plan to implement the Nghe An Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the Vinh - Thanh Thuy Expressway investment and construction project (part of the Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway) continues to be included in the list of priority transport projects invested from public investment capital for the period 2026 - 2030 and other capital sources.
At the conference, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong assessed that the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway and the Vung Ang - Vientiane railway to connect Laos to the sea are two strategic routes and Vietnam is currently studying how to mobilize resources to implement them, expected to be in the form of three parties: cooperation between Vietnam - Laos and a third party.
On September 14, 2015, in Vientiane (Laos), to strengthen cooperation in transportation to implement agreements and plans to promote economic, social and security-defense development, the Governments of Vietnam and Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Strategy for Cooperation in the field of transportation for the period 2016-2025 and vision to 2030; in which, regarding roads, it is determined to "research and build the shortest route connecting the two capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane".
On that basis, on November 24, 2016, the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos signed an investment agreement to build the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway. The route is determined to pass through the Thanh Thuy border gate area, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province (Vietnam) / Nam On, Bolikhamxay province (Laos).
The Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway, when completed, will be the first expressway connecting the capitals of Vietnam and Laos; this is the shortest route and has the most favorable terrain; creating traffic connections on the East - West economic corridor; especially from Laos, Northeast Thailand with the North Central seaport system of Vietnam.
Currently, connection activities at the Thanh Thuy/Nam On border gate pair are being promoted by Nghe An (Vietnam) and Bolikhamxay province (Laos) to facilitate border exchanges and cross-border activities, enhance cooperation between the two sides of the border, and contribute to promoting economic and social development associated with strengthening national defense and security in the border area.
As planned, on August 29, 2024, a high-level meeting between the high-level delegation of Nghe An province (Vietnam) and the high-level delegation of Bolikhamxay province (Laos) will be held in Vinh city. At this important event, decisions will be announced to allow people, road vehicles and goods of Nghe An - Bolikhamxay provinces to cross the Thanh Thuy/Nam On border gate pair.
On July 10, the Provincial People's Committee issued a Plan to implement Decision No. 1201/QD-TTg dated October 14, 2023 of the Prime Minister approving the Border Gate Planning on the Vietnam - Laos border for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; in which by 2030, the Thanh Thuy (Nghe An) / Nam On (Bo Ly Kham Xay) international border gate pair will be formed.
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