A cross-border tunnel is at the heart of an engineering marvel that is bringing two neighbors even closer together. Aptly named the Friendship Tunnel, it is a key piece of infrastructure in the China-Laos Railway opening this week.
Laos' first ever high-speed railway receives blessing of religious groups on Thursday and is expected to deliver improved connectivity that will create more business opportunities and transform the landlocked country.
The China-Laos railway will officially open for public use and the transport of goods on Dec 3. The railway begins in Kunming, China and ends in Vientiane, Laos. It will significantly shorten the transport and travel time. Watch this video.
Themed "Harmonious neighbors of reciprocity and fraternity; connectivity and communication," the "2021 Lancang-Mekong TV Week -- the National Theme Day of Laos" opened on Wednesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province.
The China-Laos Railway, ready to open for traffic in early December, will significantly shorten the transport time of goods and promote bilateral trade, experts said.
China donated medical supplies worth about 2.97 million yuan ($460,000) to three provinces of Laos bordering China — Oudomxay, Phongsaly and Luang Namtha — to help them fight the COVID-19 epidemic.
A high-speed railway connecting China's southwest with Laos has been given the thumbs-up－even before services get underway this coming week.
