A section of the China-Laos Railway built by PowerChina Photo: Courtesy of PowerChina

With steady advancement in construction and planning for the railway network spanning Southeast Asia and Eurasia, infrastructure efforts aimed at reshaping global connectivity are set to inject new vitality into the development, stability and peace of both the region and the world at large.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on Sunday that Vietnam will start building a new railway that will run from its largest northern port Haiphong City through capital Hanoi to Lao Cai province that borders China by the end of next year, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the Vietnam News Agency.

The news comes just days after Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov announced on Friday that the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is set to officially commence on December 27, the Uzbek news website kun.uz reported.

The latest developments not only exemplify the tangible cooperation in connectivity construction between China and its neighboring countries, but they also mark a significant advance in the construction of railway networks that span Southeast Asia and the Eurasian continent. 

As the grand vision for this extensive railway system gradually transforms into reality, a series of large-scale railway construction projects are set to forge closer connections between China, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and beyond, effectively weaving together a vast and intricate transportation network.

These railways are poised to inject substantial momentum into the economic growth of the regions along their routes, facilitating remarkable progress in infrastructure development, industrial upgrading and job creation. More importantly, the effects of this network will extend far beyond national borders, reaching into West Asia, South Asia and even southern Europe. This expansive connectivity will serve as a robust and effective bridge for economic and trade cooperation between European and Asian countries, thereby creating unprecedented opportunities for sustained and stable development of the global economy.

From a broader perspective, the construction of the railway network spanning Southeast Asia and Eurasia represents a monumental project with the potential to improve the global connectivity landscape. This project is not solely the result of China's efforts, but rather a collective achievement of many countries across Asia and Eurasia, showcasing the power and urgency of cross-border cooperation.

In the meantime, on the other side of the Pacific, the US is actively advancing domestic railway construction. In late October, the US Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration announced more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, DC.  

However, just as this US plan was being introduced and remains in its early stages, major construction projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework were already launched one after another, highlighting China's implementation capability in enhancing global connectivity.

With deepening BRI cooperation, China has joined hands with an increasing number of countries to co-develop interconnected projects. The successful implementation of these projects not only demonstrates China's firm commitment to promoting global connectivity, but also reflects the high recognition and enthusiastic response from neighboring countries toward this initiative.

In terms of railway projects alone, in recent years, under the Belt and Road framework, China has jointly promoted a series of major infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, including the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, the China-Thailand railway, and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) mega rail project in Malaysia. The successful implementation of these projects has not only accelerated the process of regional connectivity but has also opened up vast space for future cooperation and development. 

Of course, the construction of regional railway networks is a long-term initiative that requires sustained investment and collaboration efforts. Throughout this process, challenges are likely to emerge, including funding, technical standards, environmental protection and geopolitical considerations. To overcome these obstacles, countries need to not only demonstrate unwavering determination and patience but also deepen international cooperation to explore innovative solutions.