China's Yunnan Province and the nine provinces in northern Laos cooperation working group held the second meeting in Kunming on November 17-18.

The groups leaders from both sides recognised the achievements in the past year, including the navigation improvement project in upper Mekong River, the preparation for the Lao section of the Chinese-built Kunming-Bangkok highway, the developments in mining, forestry, agriculture, tourism cooperation, the border management and drug eradication.

One of the most important area the meeting covered was the further navigation improvement in upper Mekong River, the 300-km section between Lao's Houayxai and Luang Prabang. According to the navigation agreement signed by the four countries, safe and free navigation is required between China's Simao and Lao's Luang Prabang. So far there are 15 big rapids that exist as an obstacle for smooth navigation. The working group recommended to actively start the preparation work, based on the four-country cooperation.

In addition, according to the resolution in oil product transport reached by the joint navigation coordination committee, the Chinese side has completed the procedure of the applications for oil product transport, and the review process will be completed very soon. The oil product transport is expected to start early next year. The working group also discussed the logistics related to the inspection and revenue collection for the international ships that park in Lao side.

2. Yunnan Province reached agreement with northern Laos on water transport and tourism cooperation
(Source: Chuncheng Evening Post. 19 November 2005)

According to the second meeting of the China's Yunnan Province and northern Laos cooperation working group, Yunnan Province and northern Laos will speed up the tourism cooperation and start the Lancang-Mekong golden watercourse tourism development project as soon as possible.

According to the memorandum signed by Yunnan Province and nothern Laos, both sides will speed up cooperation in agriculture and forestry.

On the tourism cooperation, both sides agree to further simplify the immigration process for tourists, and will speed up the Lancang-Mekong golden watercourse tourism development project. Yunnan will help provide assistance to the planning and management of scenic area in northern Laos, under the GMS Tourism Cooperation framework.

To facilitate and improve the mechanism of cooperation between both sides, Yunnan and Laos will build their own professional working groups in Yunnan Provincial Development and Reform Committee and Lao's Planning and Investment Committee respectively.

Moreover, China Telecom will offer Laos business deals in international telecommunications and internet services. Yunnan agrees to offer Laos training and exchange in telecommunication management, technology and the market development.

3. SEPA: River basin planning's EIA carry on smoothly
(Source: China News Service. 16 November 2005)

The EIA Department of China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) announced that ten provinces/municipalities has issued the local law and regulations in planning EIA.

The spokesperson said the EIA of some major industries and river basin's planning is being conducted. In 2004, SEPA completed the EIA for the national paper-pulp plant construction. This was the first-ever national plannint EIA.

Since then, China started the EIA of river basin planning in Tarim River, the middle and lower reaches of Lancang River, upper reaches of Sichuan's Dadu River and Yalong River, Yuanshui River. So far, EIA of river basin planning has started in 21 rivers of Sichuan Province. In addition, the EIA is also being conducted in Petrochemical industries, the urban transport and port construction.

(Translated by Kevin Li - kevinysli[at]gmail(dot)com)