The Manila Times

China-Laos railway now fully operational

VIENTIENNE: The 1,035-kilometerlong China-Laos Railway, a signature project under the Chinaproposed Belt and Road Initiative, officially went into full operation on Friday, catapulting the landlocked Southeast Asian nation into a Chinese standard-powered modern railway era that honors China’s promise of enabling inclusive growth along the BRI routes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith witnessed the opening of the railway via video link.

The opening of the China-Laos Railway will make Laos’ dream of becoming a land-linked hub come true.

China will ensure the maintenance and security of the railway and build high-quality, sustainable and people-friendly economic belts along the route, President Xi told Thongloun via video link.

Xi stressed that both China and Laos adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party and the socialist orientation, which is the essence of their bilateral relations.

The two sides should jointly safeguard the political and institutional security of China and Laos.

Xi said serving the people is the common purpose of the two parties, and the relationship between China and Laos should also emphasize the people’s supremacy to benefit the people of both countries more.

The first train of the China-Laos Railway left on Friday afternoon soon after the cross-border railway was officially put into operation. Among the cargo loaded on the train were potash products manufactured by a China-Laos joint venture named Sino-Agri International Potash Co., according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The thrill of getting on board new bullet trains in Laos, where locals’ impression of railway had long been underwhelmed by a 3.5-kilometer run-down railway connecting Laos’ capital Vientiane and Lao’s border with Thailand, is seen as effectively silencing unfounded Western criticism over BRI-enabled benefits, according to regional affairs watchers and those participating in the dream-cometrue project.

Asia And Oceania

en-ph

2021-12-05T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-05T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281930251267347

The Manila Times