Lao minister witnesses 'Chinese speed' in construction of China-Laos railway

VIENTIANE - Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Bounchanh Sinthavong has witnessed "Chinese speed" at the construction of the China-Laos railway during a recent inspection visit.

The project management department of China Railway No 5 Group Co Ltd told Xinhua on Saturday that it has been the second visit by Bounchanh to the site of the construction.

During his visit last Wednesday, the minister learned about the construction situation of railway tunnels as well as the compensation for land acquisition and difficulties faced during the construction process.

Minister Bounchanh expressed his satisfaction over the quality, progress and safety of the project.

Talking with project manager Zhou Xiaoxia, the minister said: "At my first visit here, the section I construction site of China Railway No 5 Group Co Ltd, a cave was just being digged for tunnel construction. But only five months after that, as many as 5,000 meters of the tunnel have been completed. I have witnessed the real 'Chinese speed,' while site management is also really good. You are so great!"

The minister said that the Lao government attaches great importance to the construction of the railway and will create favorable conditions for the construction so as to boost interconnectivity between the two countries.

The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 kilometers with over 62.7 percent being bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane.

Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour.

The construction of the project is scheduled for five years with an investment of some 40 billion Chinese yuan ($5.8 billion), 70 percent of which comes from Chinese investment and the rest from the Lao side.

The China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting with the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment.