National Highway 2E linking Vietnam and Laos was officially
inaugurated at the Panghok international border of Phongsaly province on
February 23.
Addressing the ceremony, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed the traditional
special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation relation
between the two countries.
The highway has a
strategic importance for both Vietnam and Laos , said Phuc, adding
that it will further boost the exchanges between the two countries in
general, and between Vietnam ’s northwestern provinces and Laos’
northern provinces in particular.
For his part,
Lao Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad stressed the importance of the
road as a priority in Laos’ socio-economic development.
Expressing his gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, Government and
people for their help in building the highway, the Prime Minister said
it will contribute to improving the infrastructure of Laos , and serve
as Laos’ transit road to other countries in the region.
The highway, linking Khoa district in Phongsaly province of Laos
to the Tay Trang border gate in Dien Bien province, stretches 68.2
kilometres. Total investment for road is US$43 million and it is the
second project financed by the Vietnamese government on the land of
Laos.-VNA