The two parties display signed agreements at a ceremony held in Vientiane June 27. The signing was witnessed by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his Malaysian counterpart Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Lao, Malaysian state railways ink memorandum of collaboration

The Lao National Railway State Enterprise (LNRE) under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with Malayan Railways Limited, commonly known as KTMB, to strengthen cross-border railway operations.
The agreement was signed in Vientiane at the Prime Minister’s Office on June 27 during an official visit to Laos by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on June 26-27 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart, Dr Sonexay Siphandone.

Senior Lao and Malaysian officials gather for a commemoration photo at the Lao Prime Minister’s Office on June 27 after attending the Memorandum of Collaboration signing ceremony during an official visit to Laos by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.	Executive Director Savan Logistics Co., Ltd., Tee Chee Seng, welcomes the first shipment of rail freight of Lao China Railways direct transit (Rail to Rail) to State Railways Thailand at the Thanaleng Dry Port International Transit Shipment Yard.

The agreement was signed by the Managing Director of LNRE, Mr Daochinda Siharath, and KTMB Group Chief Executive Officer YBhg Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin, witnessed by the two prime ministers.
Prior to the signing ceremony, the Lao National Railway State Enterprise welcomed a visit by the Board of Directors of Malaysian Railways on June 5.
The Malaysian officials came to Laos to discuss with their Lao counterparts the possibility of increasing comprehensive cooperation, with the aim of creating faster and more flexible rail transport, as well as reducing the cost of transport.
They compared rail with other forms of transport and the creation of a new transport corridor between Laos and Malaysia, which has been unanimously agreed to by both parties.
Under the agreement, Malaysian Railways (KTMB) will provide funding for the training and development of Lao railway enterprise staff in railway operations and other services related to railways, through the use of existing KTMB Railway Institute courses.

A Malaysian freight train.	A reachstacker loads containers at the Thanaleng Dry Port.

The Lao railway enterprise and its related authorities will allow Malaysian Railways trains to operate within its rail system, under the responsibility of the Lao side, while Malaysian Railways and relevant Malaysian authorities will allow Laos’ trains to operate within the authorised Malaysian rail network.
It was also agreed that Laos and Malaysia’s railways must strictly comply with technical standards with regard to weight and rail structure, and that permission be given to move trains from both sides for the purpose of crossing the Laos-Malaysia border.
These activities must be carried out according to the requirements of the United Nations’ UNESCAP Level B (replacing the head of the train and driver) and Level C (replacing the driver).
Each party will consider and agree together the costs to be borne by each rail operator.
Lastly, the two sides will jointly promote the sale of cross-border tickets by issuing single tickets to encourage passenger rail travel between Laos, Malaysia and other countries.
The agreement was made in line with the Prime Minister’s Decree on the Organisation and Activities of the Lao National Railway No. 88/PM, dated November 3, 2015, and was also signed with reference to the minutes of the meeting held on June 5, 2023, between the Lao National Railway State Enterprise and Malaysian Railways.
During the official visit by the Malaysian delegation, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy, tourism, agriculture, education, health, security, labour, banking and defence, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update July 3, 2023)