President Thongloun Sisoulith (centre from right) and Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (centre from left) attended the opening ceremony of the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.

Laos, Thailand open fifth Friendship Bridge, strengthening cross-border connectivity

Laos and Thailand on Thursday officially opened the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge across the Mekong river, marking a major milestone in bilateral cooperation and boosting regional connectivity, trade, and investment.
The official opening ceremony was held at the site of the cross-border bridge linking Pakxan district in Bolikhamxay province of Laos with Bueng Kan province in Thailand.

The event was attended by Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse, Naly Sisoulith, and Thailand’s Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana.
Also present were the prime ministers of both countries, senior ministers, heads of departments, and more than 500 distinguished guests from Laos and Thailand.
During the ceremony, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivered reports that highlighted the successful completion of the project.
They emphasised the long history and close cooperation behind the construction of the bridge, which reflects the shared aspirations of both governments and their people.

The Prime Ministers noted that the bridge plays a key role in integrating Laos into the regional East-West Economic Corridor, making transportation and logistics more efficient while facilitating trade and tourism between the two countries, and beyond.
The project is expected to bring wide-ranging socio-economic benefits at the local and regional levels.
Beyond its economic significance, the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge was described as a powerful symbol of the long-standing friendship, good neighbourliness, and Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development between Laos and Thailand.
Its completion is particularly meaningful as it coincides with preparations for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, to be celebrated later this month.
Following the official reports, President Thongloun Sisoulith and Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua jointly pressed a ceremonial button to unveil the commemorative plaque and ownership sign of the bridge.
They later visited a photo and video exhibition showcasing the bridge’s construction and posed for a commemorative group photograph to mark the historic occasion.

Feasibility studies and detailed design work for the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge project were done between 2012 and 2014. A construction agreement was signed on June 14, 2019, between the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Thai Ministry of Transport.
Construction began on the Thai side on June 30, 2020, and on the Lao side on January 4, 2021. Final concrete connection and agreements on ownership, management and maintenance were completed on June 6, 2025.
The bridge spans 1,350 metres and directly links Laos’ Route 13 with Thailand’s Highway 244. It is equipped with advanced structural health monitoring systems to ensure long-term safety and durability.
The new bridge is the fifth across the Mekong river connecting Laos and Thailand, following earlier bridges linking Vientiane–Nong Khai, Savannakhet–Mukdahan, Khammuan–Nakhon Phanom, and Huayxai–Chiang Khong. The new bridge further reinforces cross-border connectivity between the two countries.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 26, 2025)