Construction work has begun on the new road connecting Phongsaly province to the Chinese border. The 142 km Road No. 1 will connect Phongsaly’s Bounneua and Nhot Ou districts to the Lantoui international border checkpoint with China. China will provide 95 per cent of the $91.5 million – estimated cost of the project. Guangdong No. 3 Water Conservancy and Hydroelectric Engineering is the contractor for the road project.