Myanmar-Lao Friendship Bridge opens

11 May 2015
Myanmar-Lao Friendship Bridge opens
The Myanmar and Lao entourages, including President U Thein Sein, pose at the bridge. Photo: President's Office

Myanmar and Laos formally opened the first-ever friendship bridge across the Mekong River that links Myanmar's Tachileik in Shan State and Laungnamtha Province of Laos, according to Xinhua May 9.
Myanmar President U Thein Sein and his Laos counterpart Choummaly Sayasone jointly presided over the opening ceremony on May 9 of Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge at Tachileik district in southern Shan State, according to a live report on MNTV.
The construction of the 691.6-metre bridge at a cost of US$26 million [K26 billion] started in February 2013. The bridge is capable of withstanding 75 tons of load per vehicle.
It is a significant historic milestone between the two nations, said Laos Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.  The move will also help create cross-border trade and ease transportation between the two nations and their neighbours, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India, he said.