Illustration: Chen Xia/GT
The China-Laos Railway has safely handled over 50 million passenger trips since its launch on December 3, 2021, serving more than 480,000 international travelers from 112 countries and regions worldwide, according to the railway operator on Friday. In its three-plus years of operation, the China-Laos Railway has not only become a flagship project within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) but has also served as a vivid illustration of regional cooperation, people-to-people bonds, and shared economic prosperity.
The China-Laos Railway has become a preferred choice for both local and international tourists. According to Singapore's The Business Times, a Lao economist who preferred to remain anonymous said that in 2023, "Laos had 1.2 million visitors from Thailand and most of them wanted to be on this train." Leveraging its strategic location that connects Southeast Asia, it is set to play an even greater role in attracting international transit tourists and promoting cross-border tourism in the future.
The China-Laos Railway is not only a vital corridor for cross-border tourism but has also significantly boosted cultural and economic exchanges between the two countries and the broader region.
Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times that since the railway began operations, the circulation of people between China and Laos has increased markedly. On one hand, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Laos continues to rise, along with more frequent interactions among entrepreneurs and investors. On the other hand, the demand among Laotian residents for exchanges with Yunnan and other inland areas of China is steadily growing, Ge said. This two-way interaction has not only deepened the cultural and economic ties between the two nations but has also injected new energy into regional economic integration.
In addition to passenger transport, the China-Laos Railway has also achieved remarkable success in freight transport. Since its opening, it has transported a total freight volume exceeding 56 million tons, including 13 million tons of cross-border cargo.
According to Ge, as a crucial node in the Indo-China Peninsula's transportation network, the China-Laos Railway not only demonstrates significant operational benefits today but also holds long-term strategic value. In the future, by seamlessly connecting with other routes, such as the China-Thailand Railway, a complete overland link between China and the Indo-China Peninsula will be established, further unleashing the enormous potential of railways to promote regional connectivity and shared economic prosperity.
The global appeal of the China-Laos Railway is no coincidence - it aligns with the real needs of the globalization era. At a time when some countries are pushing trade protectionism, this railway has demonstrated the true value of connectivity in practice. Last year, the Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone along the China-Laos Railway attracted 154 enterprises from nine countries and regions, including China, Japan, the US, and Malaysia, with an annual output value exceeding $2 billion. This reality proves that international capital is not deterred by "de-globalization" but is instead voting with its feet, embracing mutually beneficial cooperation.
From a flagship project of the BRI to a vital link connecting Southeast Asia with the world, the significance of the China-Laos Railway extends far beyond transportation. It is not just a railway - it represents a development model and a vision of cooperation. It sends a clear message to the world: Amid the rise of protectionist sentiment, the real winners will not be those who build barriers, but those who build bridges.
