Government officials join project representatives for a group photo during a workshop in Vientiane on Monday.

Data in Motion: A workshop on the high-speed railway, social cooperation, and people’s livelihoods

Academic leaders and policy experts from Laos, China and Thailand gathered in Vientiane on Monday to discuss the transformative effects of the China-Laos-Thailand high-speed railway on regional cooperation and local livelihoods.
The workshop, titled “Hi-SchooL Project 2026: Data in Motion”, presented the second phase of research findings under a project titled “Impact of China-Laos-Thai High-Speed Train on ‘One Belt One Road Strategy’ in Dimension of Social Cooperation and People’s Livelihoods.”
The initiative is supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund 2023.

Hi-ScooL Project leader from Khon Kaen University, Assoc. Prof. Dr Thanapauge Chamaratana, shares a project overview.	Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asia Studies at Yunnan Minzu University, Prof. Dr Tian Qian (left), and Mr Amkheng Phenglasy, co-chair the workshop on Monday.

Opening the session, Deputy Director of the Office of Cabinet and International Cooperation at the National University of Laos (NUOL), Mr Amkheng Phenglasy, said that while the railway is a landmark in the development of infrastructure, its true success is measured by its impact on people.
This sentiment was echoed by the Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asia Studies at Yunnan Minzu University, Prof. Dr Tian Qian, who highlighted the strengthening of international cooperation between Laos, China and Thailand.
Those attending the event included representatives from the Chinese Embassy to Laos, Thai Embassy to Laos, Laos-China Cooperation Office, Department of Railways, and associated officials from central and provincial government bodies.

Officials and guests attend the workshop.

The project is a collaborative effort led by Assoc. Prof. Dr Thanapauge Chamaratana from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khon Kaen University in Thailand; Dr Lamngeune Souliyavong from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at NUOL; and Prof. Dr Tian Qian from Yunnan Minzu University.
The workshop focused on how high-speed rail construction affects the livelihoods of communities along the railway corridor.
By examining these impacts, the research aims to provide a roadmap for harmonious coexistence and to ensure that economic opportunities generated by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are accessible at the local level.
Workshop participants shared ideas on problem-solving approaches that contribute to sustainable development in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The organisers noted that the knowledge generated by the session is intended to serve as a guideline for policy decision-making at both national and local levels.
By fostering professional networks and strengthening academic relationships across borders, the Hi-SchooL Project 2026 ensures that the “Data in Motion” gathered by researchers translates into practical benefits and shared prosperity for all residents in the region.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update March 25, 2026 )