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Railway essential for Lao socio-economic development: senior official

Xinhua, December 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

The development of an efficient railway system is essential to boost investment and spur socio-economic development in Laos, a senior Lao official has said.

According to local daily Vientiane Times on Monday, Somsavat Lengsavad, Lao deputy prime minister made the remarks when addressing the National Assembly session on Friday.

Lengsavad, who is in charge of production and goods circulation, said investors have been asking him if Laos plans to build a railway network as companies want to cut costs by using cheaper rail transportation.

"The cost of transporting goods by road is high, making it difficult (for businesses) to compete with their (rivals) in other countries in the region," he told lawmakers as he explained why the government had decided to go ahead with a railway project.

On December 2, Lao and Chinese officials broke ground for the start of construction of Laos-China railway, which will form part of a regional rail link. Enditem