General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, together with Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, President Thongloun Sisoulith, on December 3 jointly witnessed the grand opening of the Laos-China Railway through an online meeting.
Departing from the north in Kunming, China, to Vientiane station in the south, the Laos-China Railway is 1,035 kilometres long.
The railway is of great significance to bilateral economic, social and cultural exchanges as well as regional connectivity, and also contributes to regional development and prosperity.

Mr Somlith Nammanininh.

Travel time from the China-Laos border to Vientiane has now been shortened from 2 days to just 3 hours. Departure from Kunming and arrival in Vientiane can now be achieved in the same day. This is the first railway in Laos and has changed Laos from being a “land-locked country” to a “land-linked country”, boosting regional connectivity and supply chain resilience.
This means that business activities and travel between China and South-East Asia have become more convenient and easier.
The railway brings Laos into a new era of transportation networks in the region. The 1,035 kilometre long railway will boost the various sectors of the region and help Laos to recover its economy after being hit by the Covid epidemic.
Huawei Smart Railway Solution has supported the Laos-China Railway in digitalisation efforts, enabling advances in safety and security across all aspects of the railway, including construction, operations and maintenance.
At the same time, Huawei is working closely with Laos’ telecom operators to build a high-speed network and ensure stable connectivity, with advanced technology benefitting the Lao people and passengers.
“The launch of the Laos-China Railway is a great vision of the leaders of both countries, and the significant efforts of all workers has made this come true in a space of five years. Huawei has worked together with Laos’ telecom operators to build a wireless network along the railway. 5G coverage will be available in the near future so that people can enjoy more stable, high-speed and smart connectivity.
“Working while on the train and staying in touch with friends and families anytime anywhere has become possible. Thanks to their big contribution! After

Passengers board the new train, named Lane Xang, at Vientiane station.

we open the railway, we should open the digital-way, digital-one-belt-one-road,” said Minister of Technology and Communications, Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara.
Project director of Huawei Laos, Mr Somlith Nammanininh, said “It is my great honour to participate in this grand opening and support the ceremony. As a Lao citizen, I am very excited that finally there is a railway in my motherland, which was beyond my imagination a few years ago. I believe the Laos-China Railway will spur the economy, help Laos to integrate into the global market, and create more opportunities for local businesses and people.”
“Like all Huawei people that participate in the network construction of the whole railway, I am very proud of the HUAWEI CLOUD meeting, 5G technology and FTTX solution that has ensured the online meeting of this historical moment. I look forward to seeing the merger of digital technology and modern transportation to bring a good future to the country.”
“Huawei has been operating in Laos for 23 years. “In Laos, for Laos” is our mission, and we have witnessed and participated in this great historic moment. Huawei Laos will continue to make contributions to the digital economy and industry transformation in Laos.”