Vietnam, Laos Open New International Border GateVietnam and Laos have opened a new international border crossing in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh to promote tourism and trade, state-run media reported on Jan.15.The English-language Saigon Times Daily newspaper said the new border gate linked Quang Binh with Chalo Naphao in central Laos. Vietnamese and Laotian people as well as foreign travellers can cross at international crossings. The new gate is on a planned trans-Asian route linking Myanmar, northeastern Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and China. The two countries already have one international crossing point along their common border and several for local trade, allowing Laotian exporters to use Vietnamese ports. Two-way trade between Laos and Vietnam was worth $300 million in 1999, according to official media reports. The paper said authorities in Quang Binh spent some $6.8 million on rebuilding part of a road linking the new crossing point with Vietnam"s north-south Highway One. |
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