Q: What is your view of the significance of the railway in Southeast Asia and the Belt and Road Initiative?

Sombandith: This railway will contribute not only to strengthening relations between Laos and China but will also take China-ASEAN relations to new heights. Apart from that, the railway will inject a new momentum into the economic growth of Southeast Asia, which will draw attention from people around the world. Laos-China relations will become a good example for international relations in the region and the world at large.

The Laos-China Railway will make a great contribution to the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and integrate the Southeast Asian region with China, which will bring enormous benefits to the people of the region.

I am of the view that the Belt and Road Initiative has encouraged and promoted intergovernmental cooperation, policy exchanges and communication mechanisms with win-win cooperation. Moreover, the BRI has created opportunities for the improvement of connectivity in transportation infrastructure and technical systems in the region. Therefore, we strongly believe that the BRI will bring more opportunities for participating countries.