Construction of first Laos-Myanmar bridge to start

Vientiane - Work on the first bridge across the Mekong River between landlocked Laos and Myanmar will begin next month, state media reported Monday.

Lao Transport Minister Sommad Pholsena visited Myanmar last week when the two sides agreed to break ground in February for the planned 660-metre bridge linking Xiengkok to Kainlap, Myanmar, the Vientiane Times reported.

The bridge will provide the first road link between the two neighbours.

Laos and Thailand have built three bridges joining their countries across the Mekong, which also defines their border. South-East Asia’s longest river flows from southern China through Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam where it empties in to the South China Sea.//DPA