Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the China-Laos railway Friday, giving high praise to the project. 

The visiting group at the exhibition hall (Photos: Sun Guangyong/People’s Daily)

The visit came right before the eve of the Laos New Year and the 2nd Belt and Road Summit. The high level delegate group visited the China-Laos Railway construction site and the China-Laos Railway exhibition hall. 

Ju Guojiang, chairman of the Laos-China Railway Co, accompanied the visitors and gave a presentation on the project’s progress, including a video. 

The group also had on-site inspections at the Nanke Nei River Bridge and the roadbed of the Wanxiang North Station. 

Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit wrote an inscription during the visit

Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit wrote an inscription, saying, “The China-Laos railway is a major cooperation project for the social and economic development of China and Laos, also a project under the framework of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. During this visit, I would like to express my gratitude and congratulations to all the comrades who have worked on the project fulfilling their responsibilities. I wish the China-Laos railway project to achieve its goals and get fruitful results.”

Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit said that thanks to the cooperation between two countries’ exchanges at both the party level and the project management level, the project has enhanced the development of the Lao national economy, creating job opportunities for the Lao people and improving people's living standards.

The newly built connection will help Laos usher in a new era of railway-driven national development. Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit told the government officials to further cooperate and overcome difficulties and operate the railway efficiently. 

Ju said that the project team will work hard to develop the railways of China and Laos, with customized solutions. The team will help fulfill the shared destiny of China and Laos, he said. 

Officials with the Office of the Mayor of Vientiane, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Energy joined the visiting group. 

(Compiled by Dong Feng)