Bringing people closer: China-Laos friendship in action

Friendship between countries is ultimately built on connections between people. Over the years, China and Laos have continued to expand exchanges in tourism, education and culture, creating more opportunities for their peoples to travel, learn from one another and deepen mutual understanding. These growing interactions have strengthened people-to-people ties and added lasting vitality to relations between the two neighboring countries.

A railway that brings people closer together

As a vivid symbol of China-Laos friendship, the China-Laos Railway has done more than improve transportation links. Since opening in 2021, it has brought people closer together, facilitated cultural exchanges and opened new opportunities for tourism.

The 1,035-kilometer railway connecting Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province with the Lao capital of Vientiane has reduced travel time between the two cities to less than 10 hours, making cross-border travel more convenient than ever before.

Linking popular destinations such as Kunming, Pu'er and Xishuangbanna in China with Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng in Laos, the railway has become a popular choice for tourists. Over the past three years, travelers from more than 120 countries and regions have made over 840,000 cross-border journeys on the route, boosting tourism and related industries along the railway.

In 2025, Xishuangbanna welcomed nearly 73 million tourist visits and generated more than 80 billion yuan (US$11 billion) in tourism revenue, while overseas arrivals surged by over 110% year on year. In Luang Prabang, the growing flow of travelers has stimulated demand for hotels and transport services, creating new jobs and business opportunities for local residents.

The railway has become a corridor for people-to-people exchanges. By making travel easier and faster, it has enabled more Chinese and Lao people to experience each other's cultures firsthand, fostering closer connections and deepening the bonds of friendship between the two countries.

Teaching language, building understanding

Education has long been an effective way to foster mutual understanding between peoples. In Laos, two Confucius Institutes have become important platforms for language learning, cultural exchange and talent development.

Since its establishment in 2010, the Confucius Institute at the National University of Laos has trained more than 90,000 Lao students and launched the world's first bachelor's degree program independently offered by a Confucius Institute for training Chinese-language teachers.

The Confucius Institute at Souphanouvong University, established in 2018, has combined language education with vocational training through programs such as "Chinese + Railway Technology" and "Chinese + Mechanical Engineering," helping students to develop both the linguistic and professional skills needed for cross-border cooperation. It has also developed bilingual teaching materials, including a textbook for electrical engineering, Laos' first industry-specific Chinese-Lao textbook.

Beyond the classroom, the institute has organized cultural activities along the China-Laos Railway. Featuring traditional Chinese elements such as calligraphy and dragon and lion dances while incorporating local Lao cultural characteristics, these events have provided opportunities for people from both countries to learn about and appreciate each other's cultures, helping foster stronger emotional connections between the two peoples.

In addition to the work of Confucius Institutes, growing educational exchanges have enabled more Lao students to study, visit and experience life in China through academic programs, student exchanges, study tours and other people-to-people initiatives, further enriching educational and cultural ties between the two countries.

Celebrating culture, strengthening friendship

Cultural exchanges continue to serve as an important bridge between China and Laos. This year, a series of events have brought people closer together through art, film and traditional culture, as the two countries mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Laos Friendship.

The "Singing and Dancing Along the Way" Spring Festival cultural event was held on February 4 aboard China-Laos Railway trains traveling in both directions. Through performances, folk-culture experiences and story-sharing sessions, the trains became moving stages for cultural exchange.

The China Cultural Center in Laos has also played an active role in promoting mutual understanding. Earlier this year, it launched an art campaign under the theme "China-Laos Mutual Vision, Shared Beauty," attracting more than 1,100 submissions. A painting by Lao award winner Mek Saylom combined the Chinese lion dance with the legendary guardian deity of Luang Prabang, symbolizing the harmony and friendship shared by the two peoples.

The "Tea and the World: Elegant Gathering" activities in Vientiane, also hosted by the China Cultural Center, brought together tea products from both countries, highlighting tea culture as a bridge between the two peoples.

The long-running "Open-Air Cinema: China-Laos Film Tour" has introduced Chinese films to Lao audiences for years, offering a glimpse into Chinese society and culture and serving as another channel for cultural exchange.

Lasting bonds

From railway journeys and language classrooms to cultural performances and artistic exchanges, the growing connections between the peoples of China and Laos continue to deepen mutual understanding and sustain a friendship that remains vibrant across generations.