Laos actively supports the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China, Vice President of Laos-China Cooperation Committee Vichit Sindavong told Xinhua in a recent interview, adding that Lao leaders highly appreciate the initiative.
"I think the Belt and Road Initiative is innovative. The scope of cooperation along the Belt and Road is wide. Interconnectivity and building a close and inseparable link are the importance of the initiative. As the major goals of the initiative, the policy coordination, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds will all bring back good development benefits for countries along the Belt and Road," he said.
"Laos always supports China's development policy, especially the Belt and Road Initiative. The two countries have recently drawn a blueprint for cooperation under the Initiative and have been working together to achieve the goal," Sindavong said, adding that Laos attaches great importance to the country's participation at the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in mid-May in China's Beijing.
China Mohan-Loas Boten Economic Cooperation Area./CFP Photo
The cooperation between Laos and China under the Belt and Road Initiative covers a wide range of areas, with the most prominent project being the Laos-China railway and the launching of Laos' first satellite.
"These are the biggest results of bilateral cooperation. We are actively discussing cooperation in other fields, especially those under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is believed that the future cooperation projects will yield better results as cooperation area will be further expanded," he said.
Talking about the China-Laos railway, Sindavong said the project is of great significance to Laos. "This is the biggest cooperation project between Laos and China, which will help Laos realize the target of turning from land-locked to land-linked country," he said.
The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 kilometers with over 62.7 percent of bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane, with a designed speed of 160 kilometers per hour. Construction of the project is scheduled for five years with investment of some 40 billion Chinese yuan (5.8 billion US dollars), 70 percent of which comes from Chinese investment and the rest from Lao side.
The ground-breaking ceremony of China-Laos railway on Dec. 2, 2015./Xinhua Photo
The China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting with the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment.
"The railway will not only connect China's border area and Lao capital Vientiane, but also link to other neighboring countries, thus playing a significant role in the development of Lao economy," Sindavong said.
The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held from May 14 to 15 in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier this week. According to Wang, 28 state heads and government leaders will attend the forum.
(Source: Xinhua)
