Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), a joint venture based in Lao capital Vientiane, has reportedly received a green light from the Cambodian Government for possible cooperation in developing the railway network in Cambodia and high-speed railway link between Cambodia and Laos PDR.
Representatives from the Laos-China Railway proposed the project in a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet in Vientiane during his two-day official visit to Laos.
Welcoming the company’s initiative, Mr Hun Manet asked the firm to work with Royal Railway, Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, who attended the meeting, told Khmer Times.
“Prime Minister Hun Manet asked the company to work with Kith Meng, President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, whose company is Royal Railway in Cambodia,” Heng said.
However, there are currently no further details on how the new connections will be implemented.
At present, no railway line connects Cambodia and Laos directly. However, there has been an increase in the number of train routes within the two countries.
The rail link between Cambodia and Laos was once discussed by former Prime Minister Hun Hen and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in February 2023 in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia currently has two railroads – Phnom Penh-Poipet and Phnom Penh-Preah Sihanouk province. The railway network is under the management of the Royal Railway, a subsidiary of the conglomerate Royal Group.
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the government plans to upgrade the existing rails to high-speed railways.
According to Heng, if the project happens in the future, the Cambodia-Lao rail link would benefit economically to both countries in transport, which can transport goods and people travel to China and link to China-European rail link.
In a meeting held in Vientiane, the Prime Ministers of the two countries Hun Manet and his Lao counterpart urged relevant authorities, particularly border authorities, to facilitate people-to-people ties, tourism and trade between the two countries.
Both agreed to encourage technical terms to select the site for a bridge between Tonle Ropov in Cambodia and Salam Pao in Laos as soon as possible. khmertimeskh
