In Laos, a New Railway Signals a Future in China’s Orbit

Just a decade ago, the land to the east of downtown Vientiane was a patchwork of lush green fields. Now, a vast, gleaming rail station looms over the landscape — and a new city is rising around it. The countryside is now dotted with newly built warehouses, business parks, and high-rise apartment complexes — a sign of the Chinese investment that is transforming this once-sleepy Southeast Asian capital. Laos, a remote nation of 7 million people, used to be known in the region for its mountainous scenery, Buddhist temples, and laid-back lifestyle. But that is rapidly changing as the country becomes a key partner in China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

In April, cross-border passenger services began on the Laos-China Railway: a new 1,000-kilometer rail line running from Vientiane to the southwestern city of Kunming. It is Laos’ first semi-high-speed railway, as well as the first international line connecting to China’s high-speed rail network. Both countries have a lot riding on the project. For China, the LCR is a high-profile test case for its global infrastructure-building program. It’s designed to be the first stage of a long-planned pan-Asian rail network that will run all the way from China to Singapore, via Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia.

For Laos, the stakes are even higher. The country has long championed the LCR, believing it will help the country break out of the economic constraints imposed by its rugged terrain and lack of a natural sea border.

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