PM lauds China-Laos railway construction achievements

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith spoke highly of China-Laos railway construction achievements when inspecting the construction of the railway’s Vientiane station.

“This is the sixth time I have come to the Laos-China railway construction sites, ” he said at a symposium held during his inspection on Thursday.

He added that from the very beginning, the construction of the railway has brought positive changes in the appearance of the cities and towns, promoted social and economic development and increased the employment of the people along the railway.

Thongloun expressed his appreciation for the railway’s design scheme and well-organised construction work, and satisfaction over every achievement since the commencement of the railway construction.

The China-Laos Railway will run some 422km from the Boten border gate in northern Laos, bordering China, to Vientiane with an operating speed of 160kph.

It is seen as a strategic docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategy to convert from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.

Xiao Qianwen, the general manager of the Laos-China Railway Co Ltd, a joint venture based in Lao capital Vientiane in charge of the railway’s construction and operation, briefed Thongloun on the railway’s construction work, noting that the engineering companies have completed 91% work of building the tunnels, bridges and roadbed. — Xinhua