| |
| | Asia Times - News and analysis from throughout Southeast Asia |
 | | CHIANG RAI, Thailand - Last year's free-trade agreement (FTA) between China and Thailand has provoked both hope and fear in northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province, feelings exacerbated by efforts to make road, river and rail routes between the two countries, via Laos and Myanmar, faster and more efficient. |
 | | Exporting directly from Chiang Rai to China's Yunnan province would be cheaper and much quicker, and though officials such as Sermchai use every opportunity to promote new trade routes, for now the situation remains the same. |
 | | Chiang Rai is earmarked for railways as well. |
| www.atimes.com /atimes/Southeast_Asia/FD08Ae01.html (1197 words) |
|