Lao Cai Border Gate Key to Transport of ASEAN Goods
The Prime Minister has approved the development of the Lao Cai international border gate and the Lao Cai border gate economic zone adjacent to China into a modern international entrepot for goods in transit between Vietnam, China and other ASEAN countries.
The PM has instructed relevant agencies to upgrade the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway routes to match international standards and to facilitate the transit of goods from China's southwestern provinces to Vietnam and from ASEAN countries to southwestern China.
He also signed with the Vietnam Civil Aviation Department to coordinate with Lao Cai authorities to work out a plan to build an airport in the northern province.
According to experts, the Lao Cai border gate is the most efficient and shortest path for Yunnan province and the southwestern part of China to reach seaports, which link with Southeast Asia and other parts in the world. A railway route from Kunming (capital city of Yunnan province) to Hai Phong via Lao Cai and Hanoi is 850 kilometres long whereas goods have to travel 1,800 kilometres from Kunming to the closest inland port in Guangxi province.
After the Lao Cai airport is built, the Lao Cai border gate will be the only border gate in northern Vietnam located in a town with developed infrastructure facilities, where 100,000 people live.
Vietnam and China hope to sign a framework agreement on their cooperation in exploiting this economic corridor during a scheduled visit to Vietnam by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao this October.
In preparation for the agreement, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai entrusted the Ministry of Planning and Investment with the help of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Trade, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities of provinces lying along the corridor to map out projects relating to the project corridor to be submitted this August.
Vietnamese
