Transportation connectivity between China, Thailand, and Laos is boosting regional development and tourism among the three countries.
The China-Laos Railway opened in December 2021, with its international passenger service beginning in April 2023, while the cross-border railway between Thailand and Laos opened for traffic this year, and the China-Thailand railway project is being constructed at high speed.
In July 2024, the Thailand-Laos cross-border passenger train service commenced trial operations, connecting Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station in Bangkok with Khamsavath Railway Station in Vientiane, Laos.
This route enhances rail connectivity between Thailand and Laos while linking with the China-Laos Railway, connecting Kunming City in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Vientiane.
As the China-Thailand railway construction progresses, tourism among China, Laos and Thailand is expected to flourish.
Meanwhile, the 1,035-km China-Laos Railway is fostering closer ties between the two countries, enhancing personnel exchanges and cultural interactions, while significantly boosting bilateral trade.
Since its opening in December 2021, the railway has handled over 10 million tons of imported and exported goods valued at about 5.7 billion U.S. dollars in total, with varieties of goods expanding from the initial 500 to more than 3,000. The railway has also transported over 40 million cross-border passengers, providing affordable, convenient and comfortable experiences to travelers.
"The China-Laos Railway is a platform for youth to find jobs and provides employment opportunities for locals along the route. I hope more young Laotian people can join the development of the China-Laos Railway and be part of this big family," said a Laotian train driver on the railway.
Not only are people from China and Laos benefiting, but more travelers from around the world are also choosing this train for leisure trips, as the railway passes various tourist attractions.
"The greatest change is the convenience of transportation. From Luang Namtha, a province in northern Laos, it used to take me two days to get there. Now, it only takes three to four hours by train," said the head of a train crew.
"In China, people often say, 'To get rich, build roads.' We sometimes say, 'To get super rich, construct railways.' A high-standard transportation network greatly advances inland countries like ours. Convenient transportation facilitates other forms of transport, reducing costs for investment, trade, and tourism," said Saysana Sitthiphone, director-general of the Laos-China Cooperation Commission.
China-Laos-Thai rail connectivity propels regional growth
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have left many people in urgent need of medical care, adding pressure to an already struggling healthcare system of the country.
Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been conducting intensive airstrikes on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.
While Israel claims it is targeting Hezbollah, the offensive has destroyed hundreds of homes, devastated border villages, and resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 people.
According to a report released Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the onset of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict has reached 2,530, with injuries totaling up to 11,803.
Dr. Mazen Alameh, the manager of a small hospital in southern Beirut, is among those dealing with the aftermath.
"We are one of the hospitals that have received many injured patients, especially given our location. An explosion nearby damaged the hospital, forcing us to move patients to other facilities with the help of the Lebanese Red Cross. Since then, we have been operating only for emergency cases. Most of the remaining medical teams and staff sleep at the hospital; we prefer not to leave due to the difficulty of moving around, so they work 24 hours a day," said Alameh.
Suleiman Haroun, president of the Syndicate of Hospital Owners, noted that medical facilities across the country are under pressure, not just in the regions directly affected by Israeli attacks.
"The problem is that hospitals in 'safe areas' are also overwhelmed. For example, most dialysis patients have relocated to these 'safe areas,' so the dialysis centers in these hospitals are inundated with patients. Even before the war, these centers were already operating at full capacity," said Haroun.
Other areas are also suffering under Israel's military offensive. The conflict has put immense pressure on hospitals and the healthcare system in general, particularly with the influx of displaced people in Lebanon.
UNICEF warns of a potential outbreak of infectious diseases due to the displacement of over 1.2 million people - nearly 25 percent of the population - into the streets or inadequately equipped shelters.
"We're concerned at the moment about the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis because when water systems and health services are interrupted or destroyed in some way, that can impact children's access to safe water and also increase the spread of waterborne diseases. If it escalated any further, that would definitely be catastrophic for children, and we're trying to prevent that," said Tess Ingram, spokesperson of UNICEF Middle East.
Despite international condemnation, Israel has been accused of targeting the country's healthcare infrastructure, making it increasingly difficult to provide services.
Officials warn that there is an urgent need to end the conflict, as Lebanon's healthcare system can only survive for a few more weeks before it completely collapses.
Israeli airstrikes overwhelm Lebanon's healthcare system
