CHIANG RAI - China plans to make the Mekong river deep enough to accommodate large cargo vessels by first blasting rocks in stretches of the river near the Golden Triangle and then dredging a channel. The plan was unveiled during a December meeting here between a Chinese delegation and Thai representatives in Chiang Saen district.

China's Transport Department director-general Hu Zing and his 48-member
delegation made a two-day visit to Chiang Rai on Dec 17-18 before
leaving for Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

During the meeting, the Chinese officials said several islets in the
Mekong in the upper north of the Golden Triangle, along the Burmese-Lao
border, would be blasted. Dredging would then begin which would
eventually allow bigger vessels, including 200-tonne cargo ships, to
navigate the river linking China and Thailand.

China will also seek approval from Burma and Laos for the dredging.

About 330km of the river would need deepening to allow for the larger
ships to pass back and forth between China and Thailand.

The controversial plan to dredge the Mekong has long been opposed by
conservationists who say the action would damage fish habitats and
destroy the river's fragile ecosystem.

Somwang Rungtrakulchai, Chiang Saen district chief, said Thai
authorities have given full cooperation to China to develop navigation
routes in the river.

A plan has also been developed to construct a new two billion baht
port, about five km south of the existing port in Chiang Rai's Chiang
Saen district. Customs offices in Chiang Saen, Mae Sai and Chiang Khong
districts already provide one-stop and e-customs services to business
operators.

Vorachai Uttamachai, deputy Chiang Rai governor, said Thailand and
China have long cooperated in cross-border trade and tourism along the
Mekong river.

Mae Sai district customs office said that from Oct 1 last year to Sept
30 this year, two billion baht in goods were exported through its
checkpoints, an increase of 195 million baht on the previous year.

Over the same period, 309 million baht in goods were imported into
Thailand, a drop of some 79 million baht from the previous year.

The main imported items were whisky, cattle, garlic, women's clothes,
oranges and used machines. The majority of goods exported to China were
fuel, tyres, medicines, cement and cooking gas.

Pattana Sitthisombat, chairman of the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce,
said a group of Thai business operators have expressed interest in the
expanding commercial navigation of the Mekong river.

The transportation route was most suitable for moving raw materials and
goods that did not require fast delivery, he said. (Bangkok Post, 21 Dec 2006)