Feature: Unlocking potentials of Laos through China-Laos friendship railway

The long-awaited railway that would connect the landlocked Laos with China would soon become a reality as an agreement was signed between authorities from the two countries for the construction, which is scheduled to start this month.

The China-Laos railway will speed up not just the trade relations between the two neighboring countries but also people-to-people exchanges since Lao citizens can now travel to China using high-speed trains and for the Chinese people also to travel to Laos.

As a landlocked and one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia, most Lao people have only seen trains on television. To them, riding on a train was just an "impossible dream."

But with railway system to be built connecting Laos and China, this "impossible dream" would now become a reality.

Sykhoun Bounvilay, general secretary of Laos-China Friendship Association, was exuberant about his feelings on the project when interviewed by Xinhua recently.

"I am among the few Lao citizens who experienced riding on China's modern trains. In 2010, I traveled by high-speed train from Beijing to Tianjin and I was very awed by the train's speed which was 300 km per hour. It took us only 28 minutes to reach our destination," Sykhoun said.

He said that services, including food, were superb, adding that while on board he and his companions continue to chat since it was very silent.

According to Sykyoun, the railway system would definitely promote Laos tourism industry and open the country to further investments from China.

Since the distance from northern tip to southern end of Laos is over 1,000 kilometers, it would take around 12 hours by car to traverse it. The fastest way to travel from the capital Vientiane to the north or south is by air, but lately, there have been some concerns about air safety in the country.

"Though the speed of trains through the China-Laos railway route would not be as high as that in China, at a speed of 160 km per hour, the travel by train from the northern border area with China to Vientiane with a distance of 418 kilometers would still be less than three hours. This is good enough," Vichit Xindavong, vice president of Laos-China Joint Cooperation Commission, said.

Vichit attended the agreement signing on the railway project held in Beijing in mid-November. The agreement was signed after five years of negotiations by both sides.

"Laos is about to see a new page in its history. From now on, Laos will have a modern railway system. I am very happy since the signing ceremony coincided with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Laos People's Democratic Republic," said Vichit.

The China-Laos railway is the first overseas route that would connect Laos with the vast railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment.

The route starts from Mohan-Boten border area with China, which is a distance of 418 kilometers to Vientiane. Since as much as 60 percent of the route passes through bridges and tunnels, the speed would only be about 160 km per hour.

The railway project has a total investment of 40 billion Chinese yuan (about 6 billion U.S. dollars), 70 percent of which comes from China, while 30 percent comes from Laos.

"I believe that the railway route will help turn Laos from a landlocked country to a land-linked one. Laos will now come aboard China's express train for a faster economic development and be able to wipe out poverty in 2020," Vichit said.

Being a landlocked country, Laos' national strategy is to turn its geographic limitation to opportunities by linking the country to China and from there to the other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN connectivity is a major part in regional and international integration.

"The Lao government always sets transportation development as a key in national socio-economic development plan. A large portion of national budget and international assistance has been poured into transportation infrastructure, so as to boost passenger and cargo transport, as well as tourism and investment within ASEAN," Vichit emphasized.

Lattanamany Khounnyvong, Lao vice minister of Public Works and Transport, and Laos-China railway project working group team leader, said that the speedy approval by the Lao parliament of the project in 2012 showed the government's commitment to move the country forward with the support of its more prosperous neighbor.

"China's proven expertise in railway technology, especially on high-speed train, as well as its readiness to help in the financial aspect, is something that Laos should be thankful to China," Lattanamany said.

China is currently the biggest foreign investor and donor in Laos, as well as the country's second largest trading partner. Endit