Thailand, Laos, Vietnam Agree to Enhance Trade Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 23, 2001

Thailand, Laos, Vietnam Agree to Enhance Trade Ties

Thailand, Laos and Vietnam have agreed to further foster trade ties by enhancing road links, the state-owned radio in Bangkok reported Friday.

Thailand, Laos and Vietnam have agreed to further foster trade ties by enhancing road links, the state-owned radio in Bangkok reported Friday.

The move was made at a meeting of foreign ministers from the three countries Thursday in the northeastern Thai province of Mukdahan, 642 kilometers away from here.

As part of their agreement, a new bridge linking the Thai border province and the Lao province of Savannakhet will be built to strengthen commercial transportation along the Intra-regional highway Route 9, which links the three countries.

The meeting was also attended by officials from Japan, a key financier for the east-west transportation network.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the three ministers also consented to jointly promote trade and investment in the border areas between Laos and Vietnam and to establish a special economic zone between Thailand and Laos as a production base.

Joint marketing campaigns, improved tourism infrastructure and closer ties between private sectors of the three countries were also planned.

Thai officials said the three countries will benefit economically from the projects which are in line with the government's policy of enhancing market development with neighboring countries.

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