Shanghai: China has reached a consensus with Thailand, Laos and Myanmar on an international shipping development plan on the Lancang River-Mekong River waterway, which includes a plan to upgrade the shipping channel.
The countries plan to develop an 890 km international shipping channel which will allow 500 dwt vessels to navigate from Simao Port in Yunnan, China to Luang Prabang in Laos by 2025.
Currently the shipping capacity on the waterway is limited due to low water levels at certain drier times of the year. Most of the time, the waterway can only allow vessels below 100 dwt to navigate.
The shipping channel will also be connected with a railway that China and Thailand plan to build and become a major export gateway for Yunnan.
The countries are currently working together to make a more specific plan to develop the shipping channel.
