A railway being built through Laos is almost entirely to provide China easier access to Thailand, eventually linking with high-speed lines to Bangkok.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Wake-up call on climate issued: “Grow more trees”
The plan is to issue green bonds by raising funds from investors–the proceeds allocated to farmers to grow trees for processed timber or sold in the carbon trading market.
Opinion: Belt and Road is drawing China and Thailand closer together
The young students’ desire for knowledge and the expectations of people from all circles give me a strong feeling that we should speed up cooperation between China and Thailand under the Belt and Road.”
Cambodia’s Reliance on Chinese Debt is Risky: US Official
“Cambodia’s leaders must recognize the risks of relying on only one partner, and whether its people will accept that major change in the country’s orientation,”
In Vietnam: Assessing City Resilience
“We would like to apply our experience to a larger set of cities in Vietnam to create a nationally representative city resilience index.”
Japan is putting quality over quantity in the Mekong
Japan has changed its strategy to focus on improving openness and transparency, human capital development, capacity building and environmental protection throughout its aid to Mekong countries.
Laos’ Pak Lay Dam Impact Assessment ‘Plagiarized’
The MRC in a statement confirmed that parts of the assessment “appear to be similar to those of the Pak Beng project.”
Why now is an exciting time for Cambodia’s clean energy market
EnergyLab Asia is an organisation that aims to facilitate the growth of the clean energy market in Cambodia, with a particular focus on startups and innovation.
Poachers are killing Myanmar’s elephants in increasing numbers
With 16 camps across Myanmar and more planned, debate has grown around whether sanctuaries can solve the poaching problem
China, Laos vow to deepen bilateral ties between parties, countries
China is willing to speed up the strategic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative with Laos development strategies, and promote the construction of China-Laos railway and the China-Laos economic corridor.