On April 28, 2017, the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-aided Mekong River Highway Project in Laos was solemnly held in Banmo Village, Dongpeng District, Bokeo Province (approximately 10 kilometers north of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone). Lao Deputy Minister of National Defense Phouvong Vengpo, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Sinsavan Phomasak, Governor of Bokeo Province Khamphan Phyavong, Deputy Governor of Bokeo Province Khamphin Ommaniha, Chairman of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Zhao Wei, Deputy Director of the Office of the Ministry of Planning and Investment Souping Viktyada, Director of the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance Phesam Phongsavan, as well as Lu Peng, Chairman of China Railway 17th Bureau Group, Xiao Shengzhi, Deputy General Manager of Heilongjiang Provincial Highway Engineering Supervision and Consulting Company, and other leaders and guests attended the ceremony and jointly cut the ribbon and laid the foundation stone for the project. More than 100 people participated in the event, including representatives from various Lao party, government, and military departments, members of the joint Mekong River patrol and law enforcement team of Laos, China, Myanmar, and Thailand, members of the China Railway 17th Bureau Group project team, and media reporters.
According to Qin Zhibin, Party Secretary and Executive Director of the First Engineering Company of China Railway 17th Bureau Group, the project is located in Bokeo Province in northwestern Laos, starting from Banmo Village in Dongpeng District and ending at Huikai Village in Dongpeng District, with a total length of 22.47 kilometers and a road width of 7 meters. The road is paved with asphalt and the total construction period is 36 months. Lu Peng, Chairman of China Railway 17th Bureau Group, stated in his speech at the ceremony that with the deepening of China's "Belt and Road" initiative, the construction of this project is of great significance and far-reaching impact on the well-being of the Lao people and the development of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
In his welcoming remarks, Major General Phouvong Vongpo, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Laos, pointed out that the China-aided Mekong River Highway Project in Laos is not only a vivid testament to the friendly cooperation between Laos and China, but will also significantly improve the production and living conditions of the people in the surrounding areas, powerfully promote the economic development of Bokeo Province, and is a key road of important strategic significance to Laos' national defense, security, and stability.
Subsequently, Dr. Khamphan Phyavong, Governor of Bokeo Province, struck a gong to announce the commencement of the project and, together with Lu Peng, unveiled the project plaque. The groundbreaking ceremony concluded successfully.
It is understood that upon completion, this project will further optimize the transportation network of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, closely connecting Dongpeng County, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, Banmo Village, and Huikai Village. This will not only accelerate the development of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and Bokeo Province, but also significantly improve the transportation efficiency of the Mekong River region in Laos, creating more convenient conditions for regional tourism development, investment attraction, and freight transportation, effectively enhancing the economic competitiveness of the northwestern border region of Laos with neighboring countries and regions.
