When we look to the southeast corner of Asia, we will find Laos, a "locked" country.
As the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, it is surrounded by China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. The lofty mountains limit the pace of exchanges.
How should Laos break through?
Laos Vientiane High Speed Railway Station
"Laos is a land locked country. To open up this situation, the government's policy is to turn the" land locked country "into a" land linked country ". It is necessary to connect transportation with surrounding countries in order to achieve trade exchanges with the world." In the view of Weng Tong, chief engineer of Laos National Railway Company and deputy chief engineer of Laos China Railway Co., Ltd,It is particularly important for Laos to build a new land sea channel across mountains and rivers.
Lancang Train Passes through Luang Prabang Mountains in Laos
As the flagship project of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Laos, the China Laos Railway is the first international railway that is mainly invested and constructed by China, adopts Chinese technical standards, uses Chinese equipment, and is directly connected with China's railway network.Chinese builders have traveled thousands of miles and come all the way south.
"The project is located in the mountainous no man's land in northern Laos. It is basically in the tunnel every day, and the temperature inside is close to 50 degrees." In July 2018, Li Sitao, who just graduated from university, joined the project department of Lot IV of the Botang Vanuatu Railway contracted by Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co., Ltd. and arrived in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Li Sitao Returns to the Construction Site of the Third Line Bridge at Shaabatu Station
The total length of the China Laos Railway is 1035 kilometers, passing through many mountains and water systems, connecting Kunming, China and Vientiane, Laos.Among them, Section IV is one of the most difficult sections.The total length of the pipeline section is 45.56km, and the tunnel length is 43.439km, accounting for 95.3% of the total length of the line.
Pier body construction site of the third line bridge at Shaabatu Station (photo provided by interviewees)
"This section passes through the Luang Prabang geological suture zone, which is dominated by carbonaceous slate. The rock stratum is broken and has poor self stability. Landslides are basically common, and they often collapse when you look at them." Talking about the feelings of participating in the construction of the China Laos railway, Li Sitao admitted that the conditions are very difficult, and it is necessary to overcome the continuous high temperature weather, complex geological structureDifficult construction and many other problems.
But for Li Sitao, there is more pride and pride."It's a great honor for me to participate in such a meaningful transnational project after graduation. Especially after the opening of the train, I took my family and children to return to Kunming from Luang Prabang by high-speed railway, and looked at the railway I participated in. At that moment, I felt that the five years were worth it."
On August 20, 2023, Li Sitao took photos with his family at Luang Prabang Station (photo provided by interviewees)
Since its opening and operation for two years, the China Laos Railway has led Laos from "lock" to "connection", from "connection" to "connection", carrying the friendship between China and Laos, carrying the development opportunities, and connecting countless "poems and distance".
"From the beginning, we didn't know anything, and then through the patient teaching of Chinese masters and our own efforts, we can now work with ease." Peng Mengyu, a 26 year old Laotian girl, has become a "teacher" in Vientiane locomotive and vehicle workshop.
Peng Mengyu during his study in Guizhou (photo provided by interviewees)
In 2015, when he learned that his hometown was going to build a railway, Peng Mengyu, who had dreams of railway since childhood, chose to study in China.In Guizhou, she systematically learned rail transit operation management knowledge such as rail operation, locomotive service and railway management.After the opening of the China Laos Railway, she became a locomotive fitter as the first batch of Laos students in the "order class" of the China Laos Railway.
Peng Mengyu is at work (photo provided by interviewees)
"It's very happy to work here." Peng Mengyu is small and thin, but she is not inferior to men when she does manual work such as locomotive overhaul, maintenance, fault checking, etc. in the face of such a giant train.In the future, she dreams of becoming the first female train driver in Laos.
The talent training system with equal emphasis on "language+skills" has made Peng Mengyu and many Laotian students in the "order class" of China Laos Railway in Guizhou grow up rapidly, and become independent and compound railway talents.
Mooney (first from left) took a group photo with his classmates during his study in Guizhou (photo provided by interviewees)
Lao Youth Muni graduated from Guizhou University with a major in international trade. Since working in China Laos Railway in 2021, he has grown into a conductor who shoulders the responsibility of train operation safety."Most of the China Laos railway needs Chinese exchanges, and we all study in Chinese during our study in Guizhou, so the level of Chinese has improved rapidly." For him, Guizhou is the place where dreams start.
With the increasing passenger flow of China Laos railway, Muni serves various international passengers every day.Every journey is an unknown surprise.
Mooney with international tourists (photo provided by interviewees)
"The China Laos Railway is a lucky thing for Laos. Thanks to the support of China, it has been built and operated so well. The Lao people have gained a lot of convenience through the China Laos Railway. The trade and cultural exchanges between Laos and China are increasingly frequent, which has promoted friendly exchanges between the two peoples. This is a very happy phenomenon."Cross border goods are connected to the world, connecting inside and outside and radiating around. Looking at the increasingly prominent golden effect of the China Laos railway as a major international logistics channel between China and ASEAN, Weng Tong believes that a new chapter in Laos has just begun.
In Laos, the China Laos railway runs parallel to the China Laos highway, promoting cross-border business cooperation and people to people and cultural exchanges (provided by Laos China Expressway)
The China Laos Railway is just a prelude.Many new modes of international transportation, such as "China Laos Railway+China Europe Train", "China Laos Railway+Western New Land Sea Channel Train", "Lancang Mekong Express+cross-border e-commerce", further opened the door of Laos to the world.
Vientiane South Station, cross-border goods are on the China Laos Railway.
Since then, the mountain is no longer high and the water is no longer long.The story of the "New Silk Road" will continue to unfold here.
Please keep an eye on more exciting reports
This activity is supported by the exclusive public welfare of Guizhou Moutai
With the national marriage customs gradually becoming a cultural and tourism product for tourists to experience, from April 18 to 21, Liping Zhaoxing Dong Village held a variety of activities for the Grain Rain Festival.
