Last overland stretch of Singapore-Beijing highway opened

(KPL) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda on 31 March in Vientiane made a joint official inauguration of the Bangkok-Kunming R3 highway.
 
The R3 highway is the last overland stretch of the Singapore-Beijing highway.
Before the construction, the last stretch of the regional highway was impassable for four months during the rainy season, limiting communities’ access to basic social services, and impeding trade and employment opportunities in the region.

Thanks to the completion of the new route, the communication on the highway is round the year and the travel from Bangkok (capital of Thailand) to Kunming (capital of Yunnan province, southwestern China) will only take around one day.
Revitalizing this ancient trade route and stimulating new business between these Mekong neighbours will bring more jobs and greater prosperity to the region “ said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda”.

Improve road networks in the Lao PDR will also give families in the area easier access to health clinics, and give children better access to school “ he added”.
Route 3 mirrors ancient “back door” trade route that liked Southeast Asia to Southern branches of the Silk Road in the 13th century. As late as the 1800s caravan traders were carrying raw cotton and other commodities northwards in exchange for silk, tea, furs and other goods.

In the Lao PDR, the R3 passes by the ancient village of Khou Vieng, a former trading post from the 16th century.

The North-South road network from Kunming to Bangkok has been under development by the Mekong nations and the ADB for over one decade. In addition to enhancing business and employment opportunities for the Lao PDR, Thailand and the PRC, the new route is expected to expand the number of tourists visiting the three countries each year.

The total cost of the R3 in the Lao PDR is US$ 97 million. The ADB, the governments of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China each contributed US$ 30 million to the project, with the Lao PDR contributing the remaining US$ 7 million.