BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 27th China-ASEAN Summit, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in the Lao capital Vientiane starting from Wednesday, and pay official visits to Laos and Vietnam.
While pursuing high-quality development and advancing modernization, China has been offering new growth momentum to its neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, notably through Belt and Road cooperation with common development being a highlight.
Experts said that Li's upcoming trip to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to boost bilateral relations, foster deeper and more substantive cooperation, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, which will further catalyze regional peace, stability and prosperity.
ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY
Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Its landscape, largely covered by rugged mountains and high plateaus, forms natural barriers to efficient transportation, hindering the country's development and the improvement of people's livelihood.
The China-Laos Railway has helped transform the country's predicament into a growth opportunity, turning Laos into a land-linked hub on the Indo-China Peninsula.
The 1,035-km railway, a landmark Belt and Road project, connects Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province with Vientiane.
Nearly three years into operation, the railway has handled over 10 million tons of imported and exported goods valued at about 5.7 billion U.S. dollars in total, with varieties of goods expanding from the initial 500 to more than 3,000, according to official data.
Since the railway launched its international passenger service in April 2023, it has transported over 222,000 cross-border passengers as of early July this year, providing affordable, convenient and comfortable experiences to travelers.
Daovone Phachanthavong, vice executive president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua the China-Laos Railway "has promoted regional connectivity and injected vitality into economic and social development along the line."
Vietnam, a neighbor of Laos, has enjoyed enhanced connectivity and more efficient logistics from infrastructure cooperation with China as well, which includes railway, expressway and port infrastructure.
China-Vietnam freight trains are a good case in point. Since its launch in November 2017, the service has significantly boosted rapid cargo movement between the two countries and further into Southeast Asia.
"China has strengths in capital, technology, and experience in infrastructure construction, while Vietnam is in need of infrastructure development in transportation, energy, and urban areas," said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.
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BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 27th China-ASEAN Summit, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in the Lao capital Vientiane starting from Wednesday, and pay official visits to Laos and Vietnam.
While pursuing high-quality development and advancing modernization, China has been offering new growth momentum to its neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, notably through Belt and Road cooperation with common development being a highlight.
Experts said that Li's upcoming trip to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to boost bilateral relations, foster deeper and more substantive cooperation, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, which will further catalyze regional peace, stability and prosperity.
ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY
Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Its landscape, largely covered by rugged mountains and high plateaus, forms natural barriers to efficient transportation, hindering the country's development and the improvement of people's livelihood.
The China-Laos Railway has helped transform the country's predicament into a growth opportunity, turning Laos into a land-linked hub on the Indo-China Peninsula.
The 1,035-km railway, a landmark Belt and Road project, connects Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province with Vientiane.
Nearly three years into operation, the railway has handled over 10 million tons of imported and exported goods valued at about 5.7 billion U.S. dollars in total, with varieties of goods expanding from the initial 500 to more than 3,000, according to official data.
Since the railway launched its international passenger service in April 2023, it has transported over 222,000 cross-border passengers as of early July this year, providing affordable, convenient and comfortable experiences to travelers.
Daovone Phachanthavong, vice executive president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua the China-Laos Railway "has promoted regional connectivity and injected vitality into economic and social development along the line."
Vietnam, a neighbor of Laos, has enjoyed enhanced connectivity and more efficient logistics from infrastructure cooperation with China as well, which includes railway, expressway and port infrastructure.
China-Vietnam freight trains are a good case in point. Since its launch in November 2017, the service has significantly boosted rapid cargo movement between the two countries and further into Southeast Asia.
"China has strengths in capital, technology, and experience in infrastructure construction, while Vietnam is in need of infrastructure development in transportation, energy, and urban areas," said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.
