The ceremony was hosted by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, along with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, and Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary, Southeast Asia and Regional Division, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge is the first bridge across the Mekong River connecting Thailand with Laos. The trade value across this bridge accounts for over 33% of the total border trade between Thailand and Laos. The bridge has played a significant role in promoting local economic activities, stimulating investment, and creating jobs and income for people on both sides of the Mekong River.
The first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge plays a crucial role in connecting the transport networks of the two countries and the region. It is the only friendship bridge between Thailand and its neighboring countries with both road and rail systems.
Thailand and Laos are working on a project to build a new railway bridge next to the existing bridge to meet the future demand for rail freight across the border that may exceed the capacity of the current rail track on the first Friendship Bridge. The project is expected to start in 2026 and be completed in 2029.
A multimodal transit center will also be developed on both sides of the bridge, at Natha Station on the Thai side, to handle both road and rail freight. The new railway bridge will also connect with Thailand’s future high-speed rail line from Bangkok to Nong Khai province. After the ceremony, Parnpree also had the opportunity to interview with the media about the 30th anniversary of the bridge, Thai-Lao bilateral relations and cooperation.
