The ceremony washeld on both sides of the river, in Bolikhamxay province of Laos and then inBueng Kan in Thailand.
The two sides signeda construction contract agreement for the bridge in 2019 and startedconstruction since 2021.
Thebridge is 1.35km long, and is expected to open to traffic in 2024.
The 5th Thai-LaoFriendship Bridge project is part of thefive-year action plan for steady growth and development (2022-2026) that Laosand Thailand signed in June 2022.
The two leaders wereconfident the fifth bridge would stimulate economic development in bothcountries and facilitate trade among Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam./.