VIENTIANE: Laos and China have agreed to strengthen railway connectivity, develop an economic corridor and expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) to boost trade and investment opportunities.
The agreement to deepen cooperation was reached during talks between Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thongsavan Phomvihane, and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on November 3.
The meeting took place during Thongsavan’s visit to China to attend the 11th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on November 3-4.
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release that the two sides agreed to promote stronger connections within the China-Laos-Thailand rail network, advance the Laos-China economic corridor and expand cooperation in emerging industries.
Discussions also covered artificial intelligence, the digital economy, modern manufacturing and cross-border economic activities, reflecting efforts to broaden cooperation beyond infrastructure development.
The existing Laos-China Railway, which connects Vientiane with Kunming in China’s Yunnan province, began operations in December 2021 and has become an important trade route between China and Southeast Asia and beyond.
According to figures provided by the China Railway Kunming Group in August 2026, the railway has carried more than 90 million tonnes of freight since it became operational, including over 21 million tonnes of cross-border freight.
Beyond physical infrastructure, artificial intelligence and the digital economy are emerging as important areas of Laos-China cooperation.
The renewed focus on artificial intelligence builds on agreements reached during a state visit to China by Lao Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith in June this year.
In the same month, China pledged to provide training for 3,000 Lao government officials, professionals and technical personnel, while expanding collaboration in higher education, vocational training, digital learning and artificial intelligence.
Under the Laos-China human resource development programme, the two countries also aim to increase the number of Lao nationals taking courses at Chinese educational institutions to 10,000 in the coming years. China has also pledged to provide scholarships and develop vocational training centres and digital literacy programmes.
The two governments also plan to strengthen ties in educational technology and digital learning to improve the skills of public officials and citizens.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation under the 3+3 strategic dialogue mechanism, which brings together the foreign affairs, defence and public security sectors of both countries.
According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions also covered energy, mineral resources, trade facilitation and efforts to combat cross-border crime.
The meeting followed President Thongloun’s state visit to China in June, when the Lao and Chinese presidents agreed to deepen the two countries’ strategic partnership and expand economic ties.
During that visit, Thongloun and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of 32 documents covering several areas of cooperation.
During this week’s meeting, the two foreign ministers welcomed progress in bilateral relations, particularly during 2026, which marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties and has been designated Laos-China Friendship Year.
The Chinese side also welcomed a planned visit by senior Lao leaders to attend the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting, which China is expected to host towards the end of this year.
