Photo shows a ceremony being held on April 21 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. [Photo provided by Thai Government Public Relations Department to chinadaily.com.cn] Thailand and Laos jointly held a ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River, connecting Nong Khai province in Thailand and the capital city of Vientiane in Laos. The ceremony that was held in Nong Khai on April 21 was co-hosted by Panpree Bahiddha-Nukara, deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Saleumxay Kommasith,  deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos. Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited members of the diplomatic corps in Thailand to join the event to showcase the tourism and economic potential of Nong Khai and its adjacent provinces. The first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is the first bridge over the Mekong River that connects Thailand with Laos. The value of trade passing through this bridge accounts for over 33 percent of the total border trade between Thailand and Laos, according to the official statistics. The bridge is the most important channel for cross-border trade between the two countries, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Panpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand delivered a speech at the ceremony. [Photo provided by Thai Government Public Relations Department to chinadaily.com.cn] "It has played a crucial role in promoting local economic activities, stimulating investment, and creating jobs and income for the population on both sides of the Mekong River, as well as connecting the transportation networks of the two countries and the region," said a statement by the Ministry. The first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is the only friendship bridge between Thailand and its neighboring countries that features both road and rail systems. According to the Ministry, Thailand and Laos are working on a project to construct a new railway bridge alongside the current bridge in anticipation of future cross-border rail freight that may exceed the capacity of the current rail track on the first Friendship Bridge. The project is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2029. Multi-modal transshipment centers will also be developed on both sides of the bridge, at Natha Rail Station on the Thai side, to handle both road and rail freight. The new railway bridge will also connect with Thailand's future high-speed rail line from Bangkok to Nong Khai province. By YANG WANLI in Bangkok Source：China Daily