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11 Sep, 2015

Construction starts of second Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge

Mae Sot, Thai News Agency, 2 September 2015, – Thailand and Myanmar are starting the construction of the second Thai – Myanmar Friendship Bridge, linking Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak province with the town of Myawaddy in Myanmar.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Deputy President of the Republic of the Union of the Myanmar U Nyan Tun presided over the inauguration ceremony of the construction of the second Thai – Myanmar Friendship Bridge crossing the Moei/Thaungyin River on 30 August 2015. At the same time, they also presided over the handover ceremony of the Myawaddy – Kawkareik Road.

Also joining the two ceremonies were Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, from the Thai side. U Aung Min, Minister of the President’s Office, U Kyaw Lwin, Union Minister for Construction, and U Tin Oo Lwin, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs attended the ceremonies from the Myanmar side.

The construction of the second Thai – Myanmar Friendship Bridge is expected to be completed within two years. It will help promote increasing trade along the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) route.

According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the development of border connectivity between Thailand and Myanmar demonstrates the mutual benefit and the success of close cooperation between neighboring countries, particularly in light of the building of the ASEAN Community in 2015.

The Myawaddy – Kawkareik Road is part of the Trilateral Highway Project linking Thailand – Myanmar – India and EWEC. It is divided into two sections: (1) Myawaddy – Tanaosri (17 kilometers), which was completed and unofficially opened for public use on 9 July 2006 and (2) Tanaosri – Kawkareik (26 kilometers), which was completed in July 2015.

The Myawaddy – Kawkareik Road and the second Thai – Myanmar Friendship Bridge will connect the two countries physically, and in turn, increase the flow of people of both sides. It will also facilitate trade and investment, as well as enhancing the Government’s policy on developing the special economic zones along border areas between Thailand and neighboring countries.