Chinese President calls for faster development of China-Laos-Thailand rail link

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for faster progress on the China-Laos-Thailand railway during talks with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing on Friday, as the two countries seek to deepen connectivity and unlock new opportunities for regional growth.
President Xi made the call during a meeting with President Thongloun, who is on a five-day state visit to China to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation across a range of sectors.

Cross-border goods are reloaded at a freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway’s Vientiane South Station. (File photo Xinhua)

He stressed the need to speed up development of the China-Laos-Thailand railway so the region can benefit sooner from stronger transport links, easier travel, and increased trade, according to the China Daily.
The proposed railway is expected to become a key section of the wider Kunming-Singapore rail network, linking China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore through a seamless transport corridor stretching through Southeast Asia.
Media reports suggested that Thailand is currently building a 253-kilometre high-speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, with services expected to begin in 2028.
According to the Bangkok Post, the Thai cabinet also approved a second 357-kilometre phase in February 2025, extending the line to Nong Khai near the Lao border. Operations are expected to begin in 2031.
One remaining challenge is the difference in track widths. Thailand currently uses a one-metre gauge network for its conventional trains, while the China-Laos Railway operates on a standard gauge of 1.435 metres, meaning trains cannot yet travel seamlessly across the border.
To bridge this gap, authorities are developing dual-gauge tracks, enabling high-speed trains to connect seamlessly across networks by 2030.
Once complete, a second railway bridge across the Mekong linking Vientiane-Nong Khai will provide a direct connection between Thailand’s Na Tha railway station and the Vientiane and Thanaleng stations in Laos.
The railway forms a central pillar of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Pan-Asian Railway Network. It also supports the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, which aims to lower transport costs, improve trade links, and strengthen economic integration throughout the region.
For Laos, the project represents more than a railway. It is a pathway to greater regional integration, positioning the country as a land-linked hub connecting some of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
The growing success of the China-Laos Railway has strengthened confidence in the wider project. According to the People Daily, the volume of freight transported on the railway exceeded 80 million tonnes by the end of March 2026, including more than 18 million tonnes of cross-border cargo.
The railway now carries a wide range of goods including agricultural products, electronics, machinery, photovoltaic equipment and cold-chain products, helping to strengthen regional supply chains and create new market opportunities for businesses.
President Xi said China would work closely with Laos to develop the economic corridor along the railway. He said both countries should expand cooperation in agriculture and electricity while exploring emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest UpdateJune 8, 2026)