UTTARADIT, 20 May 2013 – Thailand has upgraded another temporary crossing in the northern province of Uttaradit, which links Thailand with Laos’ Xayaburi province.
The Phudu crossing in Ban Khok district has been converted into a permanent checkpoint, which will be open to commuters everyday from 6 am to 8 pm. The move is expected to boost tourism and border trade which now stands at 250 million baht per year.
The opening of the checkpoint coincides with the meeting of Thai and Lao cabinet ministers on Sunday, which focused on the high-speed train project linking the two neighbours with China.
Thailand is set to build four high-speed train lines. The line connecting Bangkok to Nong Khai province will be linked to a train route from southern China to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
