Laos and Cambodia launch new agricultural trade corridor to China
 
Laos and Cambodia have officially opened a new export process to send crops and plant products through a regional trade corridor to China, marking a significant step forward in strengthening agricultural cooperation and regional integration. 
The official launch of the export corridor for crops and plant products was held at the Dry Port International Border Checkpoint in Vientiane on Monday. 
The ceremony was attended by the Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Linkham Douangsavanh, and Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Dith Tina, along with the Chairman of the Champasak Provincial Government Committee, Mr Phimphone Phomdanouvong, the Cambodian Ambassador to Laos, Mr Hul Krang Phanang, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thanaleng Dry Port Co Ltd, Dr Chanthone Sitthixay. 

The corridor is aimed at improving regional connectivity to deploy and implement the strategic plan of the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in order to achieve set goals, especially economic solutions related to the agricultural and environmental sectors, the Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Bounchanh Kombounyasith, said. 
For Cambodia, exports are a new milestone for the Lao government’s efforts to transform the country into a land-link, and to deliver on the potential for regional and international integration, he said.
The two ministries of Laos and Cambodia conducted negotiations on the export of 66 crops in early 2026, on a mutually win-win basis and in accordance with export conditions. The goods will be exported through the phytosanitary department in line with all the procedures, said Mr Bounchanh.  
In order to cooperate with Cambodia in implementing the bilateral cooperation agreement, departmental and technical meetings were held in Laos and there were on-site visits to Cambodia to discuss and exchange lessons learned.  

After these highly effective meetings, both sides finalised 12 bilateral phytosanitary conditions, and phytosanitary conditions for the transit of durian, longan, banana, mango, rice and cassava from Cambodia to China.  
Both governments also finalised six phytosanitary requirements for the export of glutinous rice, coffee, blueberries, pumpkins, cabbage and tamarind from Laos to Cambodia.  
The formal opening ceremony marked a new era for agricultural goods to pass through Laos to China and for Lao goods to be exported directly to Cambodia, the General Directorate of Agronomy, Mr Ngin Chhay, said.  
“In addition, we will cooperate with both parties to promote negotiations to expand the scope of the programme with a variety of items,” he said.  
Recently, a pilot project was initiated to transport 51 tonnes of durian worth US$153,000 from Cambodia to China, and the consignment was successfully transported to the destination country, which was a good sign in facilitating trade and transportation, said Mr Ngin.  
In the past, the two sides have traded about 3,671 tonnes of crops worth almost US$4 million along their border.

 (Latest Update June 24, 2026)