Optimismseenascountryfocusesonconversionfromlandlockedtoland-linked

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VIENTIANE—TheChina-LaosrailwayhasopenedupopportunitiesforLaos"economicdevelopmentandboostedthetourismindustryinthecountry,whichisitstoppriorityinrevitalizingtheeconomy.

LaoresearchersareoptimisticaboutthegrowthoftheLaoeconomy,whichisprojectedtoexpand4.5percentin2023.

Theeconomicgrowthwillbedrivenbytheservicessectorinassociationwiththegrowthoftourismandprocessingindustriesandagriculturalproductionforexport,accordingtoarecentreportfromtheLaoAcademyofSocialandEconomicScience.

ThereopeningofChinaandthelaunchofthecross-borderChina-Laosrailwayhavesignificantlybolsteredregionaltradeandpeople-to-peopleexchanges.

Theservicessectorisexpectedtogrowat4.8percentin2023,drivenbytherecoveryoftourism,wholesaleandretailtrade,restaurantandhotelservicesandthelogisticssector.

TheChina-Laosrailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesbetweentheLaocapitalVientianeandKunming,thecapitalcityofSouthwestChina"sYunnanprovince,onApril13.ThefirstgroupofChinesetourists,numberingmorethan200intotal,arrivedinLaosaftertravelingonthefirstcross-bordertrain.

Speakingatthelaunchceremonyofthecross-bordertrainservice,LaoMinisterofInformation,CultureandTourismSuanesavanhVignaketsaidtheLaogovernmenthopestherailwaywillcreateaneconomiccorridorthatgeneratesincomeforthenation,aswellasbringsmoretouriststoLaosfromwithintheregionandbeyond.

Thenewcross-bordertrainservicehasbeenwidelyadvertisedinternationally,aspartofintegratedpassengertransportservicestopromotetourisminLaos,whichisatthecenterofASEANcountries"economiclinkswithChina.

Therailwayhashandled13,310cross-borderpassengertripssincethelaunchofitspassengerservice.

Astherailwaybecomesacrucialfactorinfacilitatingtravel,theLaotourismauthoritiesanticipatethataround368,000ChinesetravelerswillvisitLaosin2023,up21percentcomparedto2022.

Dockingproject

TherailwayisadockingprojectbetweentheChina-proposedBeltandRoadInitiativeandLaos"strategytoconvertitselffromalandlockedcountrytoaland-linkedhub.

Meanwhile,itwilllayanewfoundationfortheintroductionofforeigninvestment,andLaoswilltaketheopportunitytoparticipateinregionalandglobalindustrialchains.

SinceitsoperationinDecember2021,therailwayhasbeenincreasinglyusedforcross-bordertransportamongcountriesintheregion,thankstoitscost-effectiveservices.

Thenewroutetransportednearly6.7millionmetrictonsofcargofromJanuarytoAprilin2023,up156percentyear-on-year.Thishasbroughtthetotalcargovolumetransportedbytherailwaysinceitbeganoperationtomorethan20milliontons.

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