Thailand, Vietnam and Laos have agreed to build a major highway, including a bridge over the Mekong river, to connect the three countries with a view to boosting economic development.

The bridge will link the Thai province of Mukdahan with Savannakhet in Laos and from there the existing road to the Vietnamese deep-sea port of Danang will be upgraded.

It is hoped the work will be completed within the next four years.

The three countries have also agreed to cooperate on other economic ventures, including tourism.

Regulations are to be eased to facilitate the movement of people and goods. Announcing the agreement, the three foreign ministers said they hoped the new road could be extended to Burma eventually, creating a complete east-to-west economic corridor.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service