http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/289835/pm-yingluck-hails-japan-7-4bn-aid-to-mekong-five

PM Yingluck hails Japan's $7.4bn aid to Mekong five
Infrastructure gets huge cash boost

Published: 22/04/2012 at 01:35 AMOnline news: Local News
43
Share
 
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has applauded the Japanese government for pledging US$7.4 billion (227 billion baht) in aid to help develop infrastructure and transport in five Mekong region countries including Thailand.


LET'S SHAKE ON IT: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, third left, shakes hands with the leaders of the Mekong region nations, from left, Cambodia's PM Hun Sen, Laos' PM Thongsing Thammavong, Myanmar's President Thein Sein, Thailand's PM Yingluck Shinawatra and Vietnam's PM Nguyen Tan Dung at the Japan-Mekong Summit in Tokyo Saturday. (Reuters Photo)

Infrastructure and the transport network are the foundation for the development of the Mekong region, Ms Yingluck said in her keynote speech at the fourth Japan-Mekong Summit in Tokyo Saturday.

"It will help bring development to remote areas, uplifting living conditions of people in the sub-region and narrowing the economic and development gaps among Asean countries," she said.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who met the leaders of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam Saturday, pledged to provide 600 billion yen (227.32 billion baht) in development aid to the five nations until 2015.

Thank you Japanese government.

Cool :)! What phase of construction has been accomplish so far on the proposed ( about a couple years ago) major highway/road system tha supposively will cut through central Laos? Anyone?

You talking about the highspeed railway? The one that will never happen cause no one has any money to put where their mouth is. They are living on hopes and dreams again.

"expressed a strong belief that the project will evolve within the next five years"

No free trade agreements yet and you want to spend 7 billion already on what if's?

"will help boost trade between China and Asean after free trade agreements are set up with Asean member countries"

I don't really like these words "will establish" and "seek a loan". Those are pretty huge speculations at this point but I'm sure someone's got 7 billion dollars just sitting around that they can lend them and never see that money back.

"Officials said Laos and China will establish a joint venture partnership to build and operate the railway, with the joint venture entity to seek a loan from the Chinese government to build the railway."

http://samakomlao.blogspot.com/2012/04/planned-laos-china-railway-back-on.html

I was talking abouth the west-east trending regular highway that was projected through central part of Laos as a major trade route from Thailand-Laos-Vietnam. 

I read somewhere that there was a dispute of something concerning the highspeed railway and this is why there is a delay to start.  Eventually this highway system will  eventually come into existence in the future because Laos is in the epicenter of ASEAN.

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world :).”
― Jack Layton


Buk Hoo Kee wrote on 24^th Apr, 2012 at 5:49am:

You talking about the highspeed railway? The one that will never happen cause no one has any money to put where their mouth is. They are living on hopes and dreams again. "expressed a strong belief that the project will evolve within the next five years" No free trade agreements yet and you want to spend 7 billion already on what if's? "will help boost trade between China and Asean after free trade agreements are set up with Asean member countries" I don't really like these words "will establish" and "seek a loan". Those are pretty huge speculations at this point but I'm sure someone's got 7 billion dollars just sitting around that they can lend them and never see that money back. "Officials said Laos and China will establish a joint venture partnership to build and operate the railway, with the joint venture entity to seek a loan from the Chinese government to build the railway." http://samakomlao.blogspot.com/2012/04/planned-laos-china-railway-back-on.html

They're working on it. Will take time. Budget and fund is parts of the issue.


HAIR wrote on 23^rd Apr, 2012 at 8:22pm:

Cool :)! What phase of construction has been accomplish so far on the proposed ( about a couple years ago) major highway/road system tha supposively will cut through central Laos? Anyone?

I see.  Still dumbfounded but is there paved road that goes from Tahiland through Laos and then into Vietnam?

Was reading an article on VientianeTime. Road to Vietnam is on going an delay because of weather and fund. It 40% complete I believe.

Laos Vietnam road link.

http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=29898


HAIR wrote on 26^th Apr, 2012 at 8:21pm:

I see.  Still dumbfounded but is there paved road that goes from Tahiland through Laos and then into Vietnam?

Thanks for the link Bro.  No map from the link?  Only cost $44million (USD) to build this 212km(132miles) stretch of pavement? I am hoping this is not the total amount to build.

Very pricy. Cost also go up every year because of inflation. :)

Yes.  Looking forward to drive through Laos on this road and ending up on the beaches of Vietnam!