Laos-China Railway-Next Golden Artery of the Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor

At 4:45 PM on December 3, 2021, following the instructions of the leaders of Laos and China, Lao passenger train C82 and Chinese passenger train C3 simultaneously departed on Track 1 of Vientiane Track 1 and Kunming Station Track 1, marking the official opening of Laos-China Railway and attracting worldwide attention. The Laos-China

Railway, which runs from Kunming in Yunnan province in the north to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, in the south, is the first overseas railway jointly built and operated by Laos and China and directly connected to China’s railway network. With a total length of 1,035 kilometres and 50 new stations, it can be reached from Vientiane to Kunming in about 10 hours.
Laos -China Railway has been put into operation, ushering in a new era of railway transport in Laos.
The operation of the Laos-China Railway has opened up a new era of railway transportation in Laos, profoundly changed the transportation pattern in Laos, and realised the long-cherished dream of Laos from a landlocked country to a land-linked country. The railway not only greatly facilitates travel, but promotes along the way the development of tourism, agriculture, water resources, urbanisation construction, grinding Boten - Mohan economic park development. The railway facilitates society and people’s cooperation and exchanges. The two countries, China and Laos, are working together to speed up the construction of the economic corridor, which is of great significance. At the same time, as an important backbone of the Trans-Asia railway, the Laos - China railway will also serve as a “golden key” for Laos to connect with China to the north and Thailand, Malaysia, and other Asean countries to the south, exerting a positive impact on Asean and Greater Mekong Sub-region economic cooperation.
The Western Media often maliciously smear the China-Laos railway, while South Asian and Southeast Asian countries firmly support it.
The Success of the Laos-China railway has made some Western media and people jealous, and have been spreading false information in an attempt to smear the railway. US Free Asia Television reported that the Laos-China railway line only carries China cargo and not cargo from Laos. The same media also reported that the Laos-China railway has put Laos into a debt trap and that it damages the environment, with the purpose of driving a wedge between Laos and China.

In the face of scepticism from some of the Western media, Laos’ other neighbouring countries have chosen to stand firm on the Laos-China railway. Burin Adulwattana, Bangkok Bank’s chief economist, said the Laos-China railway project had the opportunity to be a “game changer” for the world economy, which would be a win-win situation. Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post published an article entitled “Call on Thailand to Connect to Laos-China Railway as soon as possible”, saying that the opening of the Laos-China Railway will have a far-reaching impact on bilateral trade and economy, and calling on the Thai government to speed up the construction of a railway network to connect with the Laos-China Railway. Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported that the construction and opening of the Laos-China railway will attract more investment from China and other countries, bringing hope to the economic revitalisation of Laos.
The Laos-China railway has become the golden key to the Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor
Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith spoke highly of the achievements made in various projects since the opening of the railway, saying that the Lao people are very proud of the railway and hope that all Lao people can take the train. At the same time, the opening of the Laos-China railway also means more convenient exchanges between Lao and Chinese people and will boost international trade. He also quoted a Lao person saying that “where there is a road, there are development opportunities”, fully affirming the important role of the Laos-China railway in promoting the development of Laos.
The Laos-China railway will enhance China-Laos, ASEAN-China economic and trade, investment, tourism, employment, cultural interaction, and personnel exchanges. The railway will also be an important driver of cooperation, bringing real income. Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh said that the railway is conducive to promoting the economic and social development of Laos and has become an important link between Laos and other countries in the region.
By September 3, nine months after its opening, the Laos-China railway had about 6.71 million tourists, including 700,000 from Laos and 5.87 million from China. A total of 7.17 million tonnes of goods have been shipped, including 1.28 million tonnes of cross-border goods. Cross-border goods have covered more than 10 countries and regions, including Laos, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore. Crossing mountains and rivers, the Laos-China railway has built a bridge of mutual benefit for the opening up and cooperation of the Indo-China Peninsula. Today, the Laos-China railway has developed in tandem with passenger and cargo transportation, promoting the prosperity of the international economy and trade, and is becoming a golden key driving the development of the Indochina Peninsula.

 (Latest Update September 26, 2022)