On September 27, Yunnan International Company of China Southern Power Grid revealed that the 115 kV Kongsade substation, which is 30 minutes' drive from Vientiane city in Laos, successfully transmitted power to Vientiane South Traction Substation of China-Laos Railway, marking the completion of power transmission and operation of the external power supply project of Laos section of China-Laos Railway.

The China-Laos Railway is an electrified railway connecting Kunming, Yunnan Province, China and Vientiane City, Laos. It consists of Kunyu Section, Yumo Section and Mo Wan Section, of which Kunyu Section is 79 kilometers long from Kunming South Station to Yuxi Station and has a design speed of 200 kilometers per hour. The Jumo section is 507 kilometers long from Yuxi Station to Mohan Station, with a design speed of 160 kilometers per hour, with a total length of 418 kilometers and a design speed of 160 km/h, it is the first transnational railway invested and constructed by China, jointly operated and directly connected with China's railway network.

It is understood that the supporting power supply project of the China-Laos railway was officially started on December 30, 2019 and completed on March 31, 2021. It took 15 months to build 20 new 115 kV lines with a total length of 257 kilometers. The line tower is 633 foundation, supporting the expansion of 11 115 kV substation intervals, and connecting 10 traction substations of the electrified railway to the Lao national power grid. After the completion of the project, it will provide strong power support for the commissioning and operation of the China-Laos railway.

The China-Laos Railway has established a profound friendship between China and Laos. Since the full restoration and development of China-Laos relations in 1989, the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Laos in the political, economic, military, cultural, health and other fields have been continuously deepened. The new "bond" of China-Laos relations will help China-Laos relations continue to reach a new level and work together to build a community with a shared future.

The China-Laos Railway has written a new chapter in the economy and trade between China and Laos. 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos. The mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries is deepening and trade is booming. According to relevant data, the bilateral trade volume between China and Laos reached 14.89 billion billion yuan in the first half of this year, an increase of 36.8 percent over the same period last year. After the completion of the China-Laos railway, it will greatly improve the economic and trade transport efficiency of both sides, help Laos expand exports of characteristic products and services to China, and China's technology and equipment, and continue to China. Turn over a new page in my old trade.

The China-Laos Railway will help the coordinated development of China and Laos. As far as Laos is concerned, the completion of the project will greatly improve the country's infrastructure and will promote Laos to realize the transformation from an inland "land-locked country" to a "land-linked country. It will also promote the economic and social development of Laos, improve the efficiency and level of local transportation, and create a large number of employment opportunities for Laos. As far as China is concerned, the China-Laos Railway will inject new vitality into the economic development of southwest China. It is of great strategic significance to contribute to the cooperation and exchanges between China and ASEAN countries and to realize the great blueprint of China's joint construction of "Belt and Road Initiative.

At a time when a century of change overlaps with a century of epidemics, and the global economic recovery is weak, the world can only continue to write a new chapter in collaboration and innovation. As an important "economic link", the railway shoulders the important task of the times. The author believes that with the gradual improvement of road network facilities, China will lead the new world wave.