A four-nation commercial shipping service on the Lancang-Mekong River will be launched in late June, 14 months after China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand signed a multinational agreement.

Transport ministers of the four countries will attend the launching ceremony in Jinghong, Yunnan Province, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

Under the agreement the four countries signed on April 20 last year in the Myanmar border town of Tachilek, vessels of any signatory nation are entitled to sail freely on an 886.1-kilometer section of the Lancang-Mekong River between Simao in China and Luangprabang in Laos.

Fourteen ports along the section will be opened to ships and boats from the four signatory countries, including four in China, six in Laos and two in Myanmar and Thailand, respectively.

(Eastday.com.cn 04/12/2001)