The much-awaited China-Laos Railway officially opened its doors to international passengers on Thursday, marking the beginning of a new era of opportunity and economic potential for people on both sides. The railway project is a significant milestone of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), demonstrating how the initiative is a win-win endeavor.
The first international cross-border passenger train, D887, departed from Kunming, Yunnan province, on time at 8:08 am and arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, at 6:38 pm. The service has a total travel distance of 1,035 kilometers and connects the two neighboring countries through an extensive railway network. The China-Laos Railway, which commenced operations on December 3, 2021, is a landmark infrastructure project of the BRI.
An hour after the D887 train’s departure, the D888 train left Vientiane station, heading towards Kunming and arriving at dawn. This train service is the first international cross-border passenger train service that China has put into operation since the COVID-19 pandemic began, highlighting China’s commitment to ensuring safe and efficient transport for its citizens and those of neighboring countries.
The China-Laos Railway is expected to significantly boost economic growth, trade, and tourism between China and Laos, providing new opportunities for businesses and industries on both sides. The railway will reduce transportation costs and travel time, improving connectivity and facilitating cross-border trade. The BRI is a critical component of China’s foreign policy, aimed at promoting economic development, trade, and connectivity between countries along the Belt and Road, and the China-Laos Railway is an essential part of this initiative.
The opening of the China-Laos Railway marks a significant milestone in the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrating China’s commitment to improving connectivity and economic cooperation with its neighboring countries. The railway’s completion is a testament to the cooperation and mutual benefits that the BRI can bring to countries along its routes. As the railway becomes fully operational, it is expected to bring even more significant benefits to the people and economies of China and Laos, highlighting the success and potential of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The China-Laos Railway has already seen a significant amount of passenger and cargo traffic since its opening. According to China State Railway Group, as of Sunday, 13.93 million domestic passenger trips have been made along the railway, with 18.38 million metric tons of cargo transported. Of these shipments, 3.59 million tons were cross-border.
Despite this substantial volume of traffic, the international passenger service has not been available until now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new passenger train service marks a significant milestone for the China-Laos Railway and is expected to further facilitate the flow of people and trade between China and Laos.
Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the positive impact of the new service at a news conference on Thursday, stating that it would “press the accelerator pedal” for the recovery of tourism and other industries, injecting new impetus to promote development between the two countries. The new service is expected to have a considerable impact on the economy of both China and Laos.
The China-Laos Railway is a crucial part of the Belt and Road Initiative and has been described as a landmark infrastructure project. It is expected to significantly boost economic growth and trade between China and Laos, providing new opportunities for businesses and industries on both sides. The railway will reduce transportation costs and travel time, improving connectivity and facilitating cross-border trade.
With the international passenger service now operational, the China-Laos Railway is set to become an essential transport link for both passenger and cargo traffic between China and Southeast Asian countries. It is expected to become a vital component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, further promoting economic development and trade across the region.
According to a Chinese official, the China-Laos Railway is a model project of China and ASEAN countries working on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and promoting regional economic integration. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, and China will continue to cooperate with Association of Southeast Asian Nations members to promote the initiative, benefiting 2 billion people in the region.
Suanesavanh Vignaket, Lao minister of information, culture, and tourism, welcomed Chinese tourists at the city of Boten at the Laotian border with China on Thursday. She noted that before the pandemic, 1 million Chinese travelers visited Laos in 2019, representing about 21 percent of all travelers visiting Laos. With the China-Laos Railway, Vignaket said, Chinese travelers now have more choices when visiting Laos.
On Thursday morning, Liu Jin and his 60-year-old mother boarded the train, excited to be among the first to experience the cross-border service. Liu, who had traveled to Laos eight times in the past, had previously used various modes of transportation such as bus, air, water, and motorcycle. This time, he took the train, taking photos of their tickets and passports and posting them on social media platforms.
The new cross-border train service is expected to boost tourism and trade between China and Laos. The China-Laos Railway provides a more efficient and affordable means of transportation between the two countries, which can improve connectivity and facilitate cross-border trade. This new train service will also help to further promote cultural exchange and understanding between the two countries.
Liu Jin, a Chinese traveler who had visited Laos several times before, said that traveling by train is much more comfortable, convenient, and fast. He expressed confidence in taking his 60-year-old mother with him on the cross-border train. Liu compared his previous experience of traveling by cross-border bus, which took around 30 to 40 hours from Kunming to Vientiane, and described it as a suffocating experience to be in a limited space for over 30 hours.
Having grown up in Northeast China’s Liaoning province, Liu was fascinated by the climate in Laos, praising the natural beauty, crystal sky, tranquil life, and heartwarming people. Similarly, Lamphone Thipmala, a native of Vientiane, expressed her satisfaction with the train journey, calling it a pleasant and comfortable experience, and mentioned that she would take the train again.
Lamphone had studied in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and typically traveled between home and school by plane before the pandemic. Now, the 27-year-old is studying railway transportation and aims to become a teacher at a railway vocational school in Vientiane.
The launch of the cross-border train service is expected to facilitate cross-border trade and improve connectivity between the two countries. This new means of transportation can encourage more cultural exchange, as travelers like Liu and Lamphone can experience each other’s cultures and share their experiences with others.
Su Yisheng, an expert in Southeastern Asian relations from Yunnan Social Studies Academy, expressed his excitement for the opening of the China-Laos Railway, calling it a “landmark transport project of the BRI” that benefits people from both countries. He stated that the railway will be particularly beneficial for students, tourists, and business people traveling between Kunming and Vientiane.
Compared to a journey of over 40 hours by cross-border bus, traveling by train is much more comfortable, making it a more convenient option for cross-border travel. The railway is expected to increase the gross domestic product in Laos by 21%, creating more jobs for the Lao people, according to a World Bank estimate cited by Yisheng.
In addition to the economic benefits, the China-Laos Railway has cultural significance. It has turned Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked hub, promoting regional economic integration and showcasing the BRI’s win-win nature. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, and Yisheng emphasized that China will continue to cooperate with ASEAN members to promote the initiative and benefit the 2 billion people in the region.
The China-Laos Railway has also attracted enthusiastic travelers like Lamphone Thipmala and Liu Jin, who both praised the train’s comfort and convenience. Liu, who had previously traveled between Kunming and Vientiane by bus, found the train to be a much more pleasant experience. Lamphone Thipmala, a student of railway transportation, hopes to learn from China’s advanced railway technology and contribute to improving her country’s railway infrastructure.
The China-Laos Railway’s cross-border passenger service has opened up new doors of opportunity for people on both sides of the border, boosting economic potential and showcasing the benefits of the BRI. The railway is expected to continue to play a significant role in promoting regional economic integration and cultural exchange.
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