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Wen calls for regional transport grid

By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-01 09:49

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday called for greater efforts to develop transport corridors linking all Greater Mekong Subregion countries.

Speaking at the Third GMS Summit in the Laos capital, Wen said China is ready to work closely with Thailand and the Asian Development Bank to expedite the construction of a Thai-Lao bridge along the Kunming-Bangkok Highway with the aim of connecting all sections of the north-south corridor by 2011.

He also pledged 20 million yuan ($2.85 million) to conduct an engineering feasibility study on the missing link of the Eastern Route of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link.

"We are willing to explore with other stakeholders the feasibility of project financing and to provide technical, management and equipment support, so that the Eastern Route can be completed at an early date," Wen said.

Joining Wen at the two-day summit, which ended yesterday, were the prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Wen and his counterparts - from countries through which the Mekong River flows - jointly opened the Kunming-Bangkok Highway in Laos yesterday, the final section of the overland part of the road that links China, Laos and Thailand.

He said the new highway will help improve the transportation of goods between GMS countries and called on the leaders of member nations to promote its use.

The route has been likened to the trade routes that linked Southeast Asia to southern branches of the Silk Road in the 13th century. As late as the 1800s, traders carried cotton and other commodities northward where they exchanged them for silk, tea and furs.

Meanwhile, at a ceremony to mark the completion of Phase I of the GMS Information Superhighway project, Wen said: "We must construct and operate well the information superhighway to help the people of GMS member countries to achieve tangible benefits."

The six GMS leaders also signed a joint declaration at the end of the summit reiterating their commitment and resolve to achieve the vision of an integrated, harmonious, and prosperous subregion, and to work together to promote the well-being of the people.

Agreements regarding the road map for implementing cross-border power trading and the sustainable development of economic corridors were also signed on the closing day of the summit.