Infrastructure
Vietnam, Laos, Thailand strengthen transport connectivity
The 23rd preparatory conference of the nine provinces of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand that share the use of Road 8 and Road 12 was recently held in the central Lao province of Bolykhamsay to review their cooperation. A representative of Bolykhamsay province reported the implementation of ...
Mekong Countries Pin Development Hopes on Airport Progress
Following three years of pandemic restrictions, Thailand’s eastern seaboard gateway—U-Tapao airport—has returned to the spotlight after deputy government spokesperson Tipanan Sirichana recently said expansion plans would commence in early 2023. Earmarked as an “Aviation City” in 2017, the $8.8 billion mega airport project will occur ...
Jennifer Meszaros
Cambodia starts to build bridge across Mekong River with funds from China
KRATIE, Cambodia, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country’s northeastern part, with funds from China. The ceremony was presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese ...
Xinhua
A year on, Laotians say high-speed rail link with China has brought them few benefits
A year ago, a U.S.$6 billion high-speed railway was completed between Laos and China amid much fanfare and hopes that it would fuel exports from Laos and spur growth in the impoverished, landlocked country. But one year later, most of the trade has been one-way: from ...
RFA Lao
China Announces New ASEAN Belt & Road Initiative Projects Centered Around Cambodia
The Phnom Penh-Bavet Highway which will ultimately link the Cambodian and Vietnamese capital cities The 2022 ASEAN summit took place at the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, this past weekend, with China as an official guest. At the event, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced Beijing’s approval of Chinese investment ...
Chris Devonshire-Ellis
Southeast Asia’s Data Localization Push is a Double-Edged Sword
With the publication of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025), member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have endeavored to promote the digitalization of the region. In this digital transformation process, data is essential because every interaction in the digital world produces and relies on ...
Xirui Li
Laos, Thailand Meet to Discuss Railway Project Connecting Vientiane and Nong Khai
The Minister of Public Works and Transport of Laos, Mr. Viengsavath Siphandone, met with Thailand’s Minister of Transport, Mr. Saksayam Chidchob, and his team last week to discuss the project’s development. This was after Thailand’s Department of Rail Transport provided an update on the progress ...
Phontham Visapra
Gridlocked and flood-prone, Vietnam’s biggest city struggles to keep pace with its own breakneck growth
As soon as the roads are widened a fresh glut of cars moves in to fill them, says lifelong Ho Chi Minh City resident Thinh Pham, who fears urban planning is forever condemned to lag behind the unrelenting growth of one of Southeast Asia’s most ...
Michael Tatarski
Mekong Delta could get two new bridges
Construction of two bridges across a Mekong tributary are proposed at a cost of VND9 trillion ($386 million) to replace ferry services currently in use. The Ministry of Transport’s My Thuan Project Management Board has called for building the Tan Chau – Hong Ngu and Vam ...
Ngoc Tai
As spyware abuse emerges in Thailand, the pressure for accountability mounts across the world
Pegasus spyware is being abused to target people in Thailand. The instigators? All indications point to the Thai authorities. But people in Thailand are not the only ones likely being spied on by those in power. Across the globe, revelations are emerging of governments using ...
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