The China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the Lao Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the exploration, design and construction of a Mekong River patrol road in Vientiane, the Laotian capital.

According to preliminary planning, the patrol road will start in Mengxin county at the border of Louang Namtha province, and end in Dunpeng, a county in Shai, the provincial capital of Bokeo.

The road will run a total length of 300 kilometers.

In accordance with the MOU, CRBC will carry out the project's exploration, feasibility study and preliminary design with the support of the Lao Ministry of Defense. The Laotian government enjoys preferential loans from the Chinese government and has designated CRBC as the project's general contractor for this turnkey project.

Bo Xiang, representative of the Lao Ministry of Defense, addressed the signing ceremony, expressing his appreciation to the Chinese embassy and CRBC. He believes the project bears important strategic significance to the Laotian government and will deepen the two countries' cooperation in politics, national defense and economic infrastructure construction.

Liu Hong, deputy general manager of CRBC, said the patrol road construction will not only bring peace and security to Laos, but will also alleviate poverty for people living along the road, a significant social and economic achievement.

Zhao Wenyu, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Laos, Hou Zhenshan, a military officer, and other officials with the Lao Ministry of Defense attended the ceremony.

It's both China and Laos' belief that the patrol road will reduce crime and ensure border peace along the Mekong River at the border between the two countries.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai