Thailand, Myanmar to build bridge

Thailand, Myanmar to build bridge

THAILAND: Thailand and Myanmar agreed Sunday to build a new "friendship" bridge linking the two countries in an effort to boost cross-border trade, Thai officials said Sunday.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Transportation and Communication Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha made a one day visit to Myanmar's Tachilek to discuss the plan with Myanmar intelligence chief Khin Nyunt and Foreign Minister Win Aung.

Surakiart told a press conference that the bridge would cost about 25 to 30 million baht (US670,000), to be drawn from Thai government coffers, and would be some 60 meters long and nine meters wide.

"It will take about seven or eight months to complete, and we hope it will help stimulate economic trade between Thailand and our neighboring country," he said.

The meeting to discuss the new bridge, which will be built about four kilometers east of an existing structure, was scheduled during Khin Nyunt's landmark visit to Thailand last month.