Chinese Government provides $5 million grant for dredging the Mekong waterway

On April 5, 2003, China offered 5 million US dollars for dredging Mekong waterway (or 湄公河航道整治). During the November 2000 fourth ASEAN meeting with ASEAN and Chinese leaders, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said that they are ready to help Laos with the dredging of the Mekong River. In the November 2001 fifth ("10+1") summit, he said that China will contribute $5 million to finance this project. According to the Chinese Embassy, the grant agreement signing ceremony was held in Nanta Province on April 5, 2003 ("中国向老挝提供500万美元援助用于湄公河航道整治"). According to the agreement, the aforesaid aid will be used for the 230 km course of the Mekong River from the old border to the Golden Triangle. According to the Chinese Embassy source, 98% of the river improvement project has been completed so far, and the yard construction is expected to be completed in late May 2003 ("中国向老挝提供500万美元援助用于湄公河航道整治"). Additional sources reported that the first phase and second phase started in March 20, 2002, and ended in April 15, 2003. The third phase was completed in April 2004. The project was carried out by an unspecified Chinese company.

Number of official sources

3

Number of total sources

9