Q: How will the railway benefit Laos and Laotians?

Sombandith: The infrastructure development is one of the priorities of the Lao government. Large-scale infrastructure investment projects have become an important starting point for the transition from our dependence on natural resource exploitation to enhancing the nation's new potential through sustainable, green development.

The project will transform Laos from a land-locked to a land-linked country that will make a significant contribution to the implementation of the Lao government's socioeconomic development plan to accelerate poverty eradication.

The Lao people are happy that their dream of a high-speed railway has come true. This will be a turning point in prosperity. I do hope that this historic Laos-China Railway will stimulate the economic growth of Laos to new heights, improve the Lao people's livelihoods and help Laos in poverty eradication.