GMS in the News

Viet Nam is set to begin construction of a new 417-kilometer railway line connecting the northern port city of Haiphong to Kunming, People’s Republic of China (PRC), via Hanoi and Lao Cai Province. The initiative, with an estimated investment of about US$11 billion, aims to bolster trade and tourism between the two countries by enhancing connectivity and facilitating smoother transportation of goods and people.

The fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge spanning the Mekong River, connecting Borikhamxay province in Lao PDR with Bueng Kan province in Thailand, is now 96% complete. Its official opening is being planned for May 2025, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The new bridge will facilitate easier travel and trade between the two countries, as well as strengthen connections within the Greater Mekong Subregion, particularly benefiting businesses engaged in trade between Thailand and Viet Nam.

On 9 January, Laos and Viet Nam officially launched a cross-currency transaction service, connecting their cross-border retail payment systems via QR codes.

Great efforts have been made by the general border inspection station in Guangxi to promote the high-quality development of Guangxi and maintain border security and stability in 2024, officials announced during the Jan 8 press conference.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has targeted four niche markets for next year: wellness, luxury experience, sports tourism and honeymoons.

Authorities of the northern border province of Lang Son and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China held an online signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a pilot smart border gate.

The Government of Thailand has announced that its ambitious high-speed railway project connecting the country to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.

In a milestone moment for GMS-wide environmental collaboration, the representatives of the GMS ministries of environment pledged to work together to address the mounting issue of plastic waste pollution in the subregion. The endorsed Phnom Penh Joint Statement on Prevention of Plastic Pollution in the Greater Mekong Subregion represents the commitment of the six countries to address the ecological, economic, and societal challenges posed by plastic waste in the GMS. 

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s reliance on debt financing for the power sector has led to significant economic growth but also severe debt distress. Reforms should focus on improving sector governance, enhancing financial sustainability, and fostering clean energy access.

Since its inception in 2006, the GMS Environment Program has been integral in supporting the GMS countries in advancing environmental protection and sustainable development through policy development, strategic planning, and climate-related investments. With three phases spanning 18 years, the program has continuously evolved, adjusting to the dynamic landscape of environmental priorities of the GMS countries. Now, as we’re nearing the close of the current Phase III of the program, it’s time to look beyond 2025 into the next chapter.