On December 3, the “Lancang” EMU train slowly departed from Vientiane Station in the capital of Laos; on the same day, a Fuxing EMU departed from Kunming Station in Yunnan, China…The entire China-Laos Railway was opened for operation.
Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the State, attended the opening ceremony of the China-Laos Railway in Beijing on the same day with the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Thong Lun through a video link.
On the afternoon of December 3, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping and Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Secretary and President Thong Lun attended the opening ceremony of the China-Laos Railway via a video link in Beijing.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xiang
The iron and steel dragon traverses the mountains and rivers, carrying the train of friendship between the peoples of China and Laos, and galloping on the road of hope.
The China-Laos Railway starts from Kunming, China in the north, to Vientiane, Laos, in the south, with a total length of 1,035 kilometers. The opening and operation of the China-Laos Railway is a practical achievement in the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” and a model for China to share development opportunities with the world in a more open attitude. Intercommunication is a milestone.
Continuing friendship and top-level design to promote development and docking
This is a transportation artery that connects friendship and carries dreams.
China and Laos are connected by mountains and rivers, and they have always been connected with each other sincerely. Years of hard work and fruitful results. As the flagship project of the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, the China-Laos railway from the start of construction to the opening of the entire line is inseparable from the decision-making, deployment and promotion of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries.
In November 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping made his first visit after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Laos was one of the countries visited.
“We need to deepen strategic alignment and create a community of mutual help and destiny. China supports Laos in giving full play to its unique location advantages and achieving green and sustainable development. The China-Laos Railway, as an important part of the Trans-Asian Railway network, is of great strategic and practical significance to Laos During the visit, General Secretary Xi Jinping published a signed article in the Lao media, pointing out the importance of building the China-Laos railway.
This is the first train on the China-Laos Railway taken on the screen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 3.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xiang
During the visit, under the witness of General Secretary Xi Jinping and then General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Bunyan, representatives of China and Laos signed cooperation documents in areas such as the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor and infrastructure construction. Since then, the China-Laos Railway, which will run through the north and south of Laos when it is fully completed, has been given new meanings and missions, and pictures of cooperation have gradually unfolded.
In April 2019, Bunyang visited China. During the visit, General Secretary Xi Jinping and Bunyang signed the Action Plan for Building a Community of Shared Future for China and Laos in Beijing. The Action Plan clearly states that, relying on the China-Laos Railway, it is necessary to carry out economic and trade cooperation focusing on interconnection and cooperation in production capacity and investment, and to build the China-Laos Railway into a demonstration project for the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”.
In January 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again pointed out during a telephone conversation with Tonglun that both sides should steadily advance the construction of major projects such as the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the China-Laos Railway, and promote the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” between China and Laos to achieve more results.
On December 3, the first train of the China-Laos Railway arrived at China’s Yuxi Station.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao
On the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Tonglun told the media that China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative has brought practical benefits to cooperating countries. The Laos-China Railway is of great significance to Laos-China relations and will help Laos realize the transition from a “land-locked country” to a “land-union country”.
As an international railway that adopts Chinese technical standards, uses Chinese equipment, and is directly connected to the Chinese railway network after the “Belt and Road” initiative is proposed, the construction of China-Laos railways adheres to the important direction of infrastructure “hard connectivity” and rules and standards “soft connectivity” “As an important support, with the “heart-to-heart connection” of the two peoples as an important foundation, it has become a benchmark for high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road”.
The opening of the China-Laos Railway has brought the Lao people’s dream of “turning a land-locked country into a land-union country” into reality, and has also written a strong mark on the magnificent picture of the China-Laos community of shared future and the construction of the “Belt and Road”.
Fight side by side to overcome difficulties and build a long steel dragon
This is a winding steel dragon that walks with struggle and is beautiful with mountains and rivers.
Crossing mountains, rivers, and fields, every inch of the progress of the China-Laos Railway is inseparable from the hard work of the builders. The China-Laos Railway runs through the mountainous areas of western Yunnan, China and northern Laos, with high mountains and deep valleys, complex geology, numerous water systems, and unique regional customs. People along the line said vividly that the China-Laos Railway sometimes is in the “sky” (bridge) and sometimes in the “hole” (tunnel).
Workers carry out construction work in the Friendship Tunnel of the China-Laos Railway (photographed on March 5). On the border between China and Laos, the “One Tunnel Connecting Two Countries” Friendship Tunnel is a rare highly corrosive salt rock tunnel, which is extremely difficult to design and construct.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Wenyao
On the border between China and Laos, the “One Tunnel Connecting Two Countries” Friendship Tunnel is a rare highly corrosive salt rock tunnel, which is extremely difficult to design and construct. After more than 4 years of hard work by more than 1,200 Chinese and Laos builders, the Friendship Tunnel was successfully completed.
“This cross-border tunnel is named’Friendship Tunnel’, which symbolizes the profound friendship between the peoples of China and Laos. During the construction process, we urged ourselves to live up to our trust and mission and build it into a high-quality landmark project. “Said Wang Xiaodong, the administrative manager of the Laos section of the Laos section of the China Railway Second Bureau.
On the outskirts of Vientiane, the Pengtong Bridge, the longest bridge on the entire China-Laos railway line, and the Nancone River Bridge stand tall. Under the leadership of Xuzhou, the head of the sixth section of the China-Laos Railway Section of the China Railway Second Bureau, in order to build the Lao’s “dream road” as soon as possible, the team here completed one after another seemingly “impossible” tasks in the eyes of the Lao: 12 The steel bar factory was built in one day, the China-Laos railway exhibition hall and safety experience hall were built in 20 days, and two standardized construction demonstration sections of Nancone River Bridge and Vientiane North Station were built in one month, totaling 2.7 kilometers…
“Hold on to our posts and perform our duties for the heavy responsibility of the’Chinese Engineer’.” Xuzhou said, “We will not forget our original intention and continue to move forward.”
The first train of the China-Laos Railway drove over the Yuanjiang Double-Line Bridge in Yuanjiang Hani, Yi and Dai Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, China (taken on December 3, UAV photo).Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Guansen
Upholding the spirit of fulfilling the trust, fulfilling the mission, sticking to the post, and fulfilling their duties, the China-Laos railway people open roads in the mountains and build bridges in the mountains to overcome all difficulties. With their unremitting efforts, tunnels passed through the mountains, bridge piers rose from the ground, and the steel dragon jumped up.
Green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains, and development must not come at the cost of destroying the ecological environment. The builders of the China-Laos Railway have the courage to overcome all difficulties, but also have the ingenuity of environmentally friendly construction and protection of mountains and waters.
Xishuangbanna, where the tropical ecosystem is well preserved, is densely covered with forests and wild elephants, and construction requires strict green and environmental protection. The China-Laos railway line plan takes measures such as extending the tunnel, adjusting the position of the inclined shaft, and replacing the road with bridges, avoiding the main activity areas of wild Asian elephants, and maximizing the protection of the elephants’ living homes.
This is the construction site of the Friendship Tunnel on the China-Laos Railway taken in Boding, Laos, on March 26, 2018. Issued by Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Liu Ailun)
In northern Laos, the tourist town of Vang Vieng is still beautiful; beside the ancient city of Luang Prabang, the China-Laos Railway passes sideways, which does not reduce the characteristics of the ancient city’s world cultural heritage.
Nowadays, the areas along the China-Laos Railway are full of lush vegetation and colorful flowers. This steel artery looms in the green mountains and green waters and in the idyllic rice paddies.
People-oriented destiny and work together to create the future
This is a bright road that benefits the people’s livelihood and connects the future.
“Achieving the common development of countries along the route and allowing the people to live a good life is the original intention of my’Belt and Road’ initiative. Strengthening China-Laos cooperation in the field of people’s livelihood and promoting cooperation between China and Laos under the framework of the’Belt and Road’ is to build a community with a shared future for China and Laos. Important content…I wish the China-Laos Friendship Farm Ice Village Primary School will be better and better! Welcome to Beijing as soon as possible on the China-Laos railway train.”
In April 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping said in a reply to the teachers and students of the Laos China-Laos Friendship Nong Ice Village Primary School.
On June 1, 2019, in Vientiane, Laos, students from the China-Laos Friendship Farm Ice Village Primary School visited the China-Laos Railway Exhibition Hall.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Jianhua
Transportation is the backbone of economy and the bond of civilization. Before the arrival of the China-Laos Railway, Laos had only a 3.5-kilometer-long railway connecting Thailand. The shackles of traffic have led to the long-term backward economic development of Laos. From the start of the construction to the operation of the China-Laos Railway, a dream of a smooth route was laid out in front of the Lao people, poverty faded and hope showed.
With the opening of the entire China-Laos railway line, the journey from Vientiane to the China-Laos border has been shortened from 2 days to 3 hours, and it will be possible to arrive at Kunming in the morning and evening. A railway has built a broad stage for Laos to achieve national prosperity and people’s happiness, enabling China-Laos connectivity to achieve leap-forward development, and also closely linking the Chinese dream and the Laotian dream.
Workers are constructing near the Friendship Tunnel of the China-Laos Railway (photographed on September 29). On the border between China and Laos, the “One Tunnel Connecting Two Countries” Friendship Tunnel is a rare highly corrosive salt rock tunnel, which is extremely difficult to design and construct.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao
Since the construction of the whole line started in 2016, the China-Laos Railway has driven more than 5,000 local people to participate in the construction and created more than 110,000 local jobs. Groups of young Laotian people stepped out of the mountains, learned advanced technology and knowledge, and gradually became “big craftsmen” during the construction of this modern railway.
Songzhai Saiyafong came from Dashan Mountain in northern Laos and came to work on the project when the construction of the China-Laos railway started. “After I came to work in the railway (Laozhong), I learned more knowledge and learned to use higher-end equipment.” Song Zhai said.
In 2019, Song Zhai was named “Railway Craftsman” by Lao China Railway Co., Ltd. After the technical level was improved, Song Zhai had a bigger dream. “Laos railway construction has just begun. After accumulating experience and technology, I hope to set up a surveying and mapping company by myself and cooperate with Chinese companies.”
On June 18, 2020, in the northern suburbs of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, employees of China Railway Second Bureau celebrated the successful on-site welding of the China-Laos Railway seamless track. Published by Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Keqiao)
The opening and operation of the China-Laos Railway has added a new engine to Laos’ modernization drive, and helped Laos turn its “landlocked” shortcomings into its advantage as a “hub”, providing a platform for peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win situation between China and Laos. The new support empowers bilateral economic and social development.
“Building the Laos-China railway is a mutually beneficial cooperation decision between Laos and China. It will bring many business opportunities to Laos and help Lao’s economy achieve new development.” said Vali Vesaporn, consultant to the Lao Prime Minister and vice chairman of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The China Railway has highlighted Laos’ geographical advantages. Tourism, ecological agriculture, light industry, finance and medical services can all find development opportunities in Laos.
The China-Laos Railway is like a “golden key”, alleviating the plight of Laos’ “landlocked country”, and opening a large channel that radiates countries such as Myanmar and Thailand in the hinterland of the Indochina Peninsula. With the opening and operation of the China-Laos Railway, the Trans-Asian Railway network has become clearer, China and the countries of the Indo-China Peninsula are more closely connected, and the interconnection of countries in the region has reached a new starting point.
This is the Luang Prabang Mekong Bridge on the China-Laos Railway taken on February 5, 2021 (photographed by drone). Issued by Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Pan Longzhu)
The joint construction of the “Belt and Road” pursues development, advocates a win-win situation, and conveys hope. At the third “Belt and Road” construction forum, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly clarified the new situation facing the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, emphasizing the complete, accurate, and comprehensive implementation of the new development concept, with high standards, sustainability, and people’s livelihood. For the goal, consolidate the foundation of interconnection and cooperation, expand the new space for international cooperation, strengthen the risk prevention and control network, strive to achieve a higher level of cooperation, higher investment efficiency, higher supply quality, and higher development resilience, and promote the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” “High-quality development continues to achieve new results.
On the new journey, China will join hands with other countries to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind with the “Belt and Road” as a practical platform, and create a path of opportunity to common prosperity.
Text reporter: Shang Jing, Zhang Jianhua, Ding Ying, Qi Zhongxi, Wang Changshan, Ding Yiquan
Video “A Railway Connecting One’s Wish” Reporter: Zhang Jianhua, Luo Linlan, Yang Muyuan, He Chunhao, Liu Runzhi Reporter: Du Dapeng
Video “China-Laos Railway” reporter: Wang Changshan, Wang Anhaowei, Ding Yiquan, Yang Muyuan, Wang Guansen, Sun Min, He Chunhao, Pang Fengwei, and Zeng Wei
Poster design: Jiang Zihan
New media editor: Mu XiaoxiangReturn to Sohu to see more
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