Thailand, Laos Complete Cargo Transport Agreement

   BANGKOK (June 7) XINHUA - Thai and Laotian transport 
officials have completed a draft agreement to facilitate 
cargo transport between the  two countries.
   Mahidol Chantrangkun, permanent secretary of the Thai 
Transport and Communications Ministry, drew up the draft 
with his Laotian counterpart  Sai Pakasum in Bangkok Friday, 
local press reported today.
   Under the draft agreement, vehicles from both countries 
can operate in  each other's territory to transport transit 
cargo which would be  exempted from customs duty in both 
countries.
   Such cargo could be left in each other's territory for up 
to 90 days  but a longer period would subject the goods to 
customs requirements of  each country.
   In another development, travelers using the Thai-Laotian 
friendship  bridge from Thailand's Nong Khai province to 
Vientiane could have  Laotian visa stamped at the border 
checkpoint. Laotian authorities  introduced the service on 
June 1 to make life easier for travelers.