Laos-China railway to spur border zone development
The Laos-China railway will provide significant momentum for the development of the Boten-Mohan border economic cooperation zone, experts have noted. The railroad, a key project under China’s Belt and Road initiative, will link the Mohan-Boten border crossing in northern Laos to Vientiane, over a distance of 427 kilometres. Experts are optimistic that the border economic cooperation zone could become a regional hub for trade, investment and tourism once the almost-US$6 -billion railway is complete. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told his visiting Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing last week that China is willing to work with Laos to push forward the development of the railway and economic cooperation zone. The two premiers witnessed the signing of two cooperative documents on border trade and the economic cooperative zone. Mr Thongloun said he was committed to building the railway as it was of great importance to Laos in transforming the land-locked country into a land link within the region.
