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DAM-L LS: Mekong Navigation agreement inaugurated (fwd)
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 11:19:24 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: LS: Mekong Navigation agreement inaugurated
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062801 MEKONG NAVIGATION / River borders opened to commerce (BKK Post)
Historic four-nation accord inaugurated in Chinese port
Nauvarat Suksamran
Four Mekong nations have approved commercial navigation on the
Lancang-Mekong river, to promote trade and tourism in the region.
The inauguration was celebrated at Jing Hong port in China. It is the first
such collaboration between the four countries since before World War II.
In April last year, an agreement was signed in the Burmese border town of
Tachilek aimed at developing the Mekong river basin through commercial
navigation. The agreement allows trade and tour vessels of the four nations
to cruise freely along the river from Simao, in southern China, to Luang
Prabang, in northern Laos.
Each country must share the responsibility of developing four piers along
the river course and facilitate passage of vessels and customs procedures.
After signing the pact last year, they set up a joint committee to study
all relevant problems including its environmental impact to make sure the
project was viable and would not run into problems later.
Results of the study are expected to be forwarded to each country before
September.
This co-operation is expected to increase the transport volume in the
Mekong to 1.5-4 million metric tonnes a year, and should also help boost
trade in the Quadrangle Economic Zone.
Most of the vessels currently operating in the Mekong belong to China,
which already has modern, well-equipped piers and better facilities than
its Mekong neighbours.
Representatives of the four countries at the opening ceremony included
Pracha Maleenond, deputy transport and communications minister, Huang Zhen
Gong, China's communications and transport minister, Buathong Wonglokham,
Lao minister of communications and transport, and U Pe Than, Burma's
communications minister.
Mr Buathong raised concern about the possible environmental impact of trade.
"Like the degrading forests, it could affect the countries at the river's
end," the Lao minister said.
He asked the working committee to study the project carefully although it
provides good trade and economic opportunities.
Thanomsak Serivithayasak, president of the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce,
said opening the river would strengthen Sino-Thai trade relations, but he
was concerned about Thailand's lack of readiness.
Chiang Saen, one of only two Thai commercial piers on the Mekong river, was
badly located on a river bend and had been seriously damaged by currents
even before the opening, Mr Thanomsak said.
© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2001
http://www.bangkokpost.com/today/280601_News17.html
062901 China to Help Myanmar, Laos Dredge Mekong River (People's Daily)
Friday, June 29, 2001, updated at 08:14(GMT+8)
The Chinese government will invest more than 42 million yuan (5.06 million
U.S. dollars) to help Myanmar and Laos dredge a navigation section on the
Mekong River, sources with the Yunnan Provincial Navigation Administration
said.
The 331-kilometer-long section to be dredged runs from the No. 243
demarcation stone between China and Myanmar to Houayxay in Laos. The
project is expected to start in December this year after approval by the
governments of China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, according to sources.
The section to be dredged, a border river between Myanmar and Laos, is part
of the Lancang-Mekong River course which opened to commercial navigation in
China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand Tuesday. Shipping vehicles now can
navigate unrestricted on the waterway from Simao Port in Yunnan Province,
southwest China, to Louang Prabang Port in Laos with a total length of 886
kilometers.
Experts from the four countries have carried out a series of on- the-spot
investigations at the Myanmar-Laos border river and the river course is
expected to allow passage of 100-ton ships all the year round upon
completion of the dredging project, said Liu Daqing, a leading technician
in charge of the project.
By 2007, 300-ton ships are expected to pass through the section even in dry
seasons with further improvement to the course of the river in the coming
years.
Currently, the annual navigation capacity of the Lancang-Mekong River is 4
million tons and it is expected to reach 10 million tons by 2007.
Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved
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