During the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Connecting ASEAN Events from 26 to 28 November 2023, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) invited senior government officials, diplomatic envoys, think tank experts and representatives of business communities from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China to take a ride on the China-Laos Railway and make a field visit to Saysettha Development Zone in Vientiane. All participants spoke highly of the tremendous achievements in the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between Laos and China.

Along the trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang by the China-Laos Railway, the guests were impressed by its convenience and comfort, and underlined that the railway opened up opportunities for Laos’ economic development and boosted the tourism industry in the country. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Union Minister Thet Thet Khinefor Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar praised the BRI project which has benefited local people, and expressed hope that more BRI projects between Myanmar and China can be accomplished to facilitate tourism. She also expressed that the journey along the China-Laos Railway is fantastic and welcomes Chinese tourists to visit the beautiful scenery of Myanmar, lingering in the snow-capped mountains, winding caost and beautiful beaches, as well as the unique cultural heritage sites.

As a key intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Laos under the BRI, Saysettha Development Zone has played an important role in promoting Laos’ industrialization and enhancing economic cooperation and trade between China and Laos. During the visit, the guests had in-depth research on the zone’s development plan, designs, and preferential policies, and explored opportunities for future cooperation.