Cross-border railway's benefits hailed

The China-Laos-Thailand Railway, with construction ongoing for the Thai section, has significantly enhanced regional connectivity and economic growth, despite several social and environmental challenges, according to a recent report.

Led by scholars from China, Laos and Thailand, the report released in Bangkok earlier this week was based on research on the social and economic impact of the completed portion of the high-speed network that will connect Thailand with China through Laos.

Currently, the railway has the section connecting the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming with the Laotian capital of Vientiane fully operational. Thailand expects to complete its portion of the network linking the country to China by 2030.