Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone lauded the China-Laos Railway for its economic benefits as well as its contribution to promoting regional connectivity.
As a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the 1,035-km railway connects Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, with the Laotian capital Vientiane.
It has handled millions of tons of imported and exported goods since it was put into operation in December 2021.
In a recent interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Sonexay highlighted the wonderful results brought by the railway.
"We speak highly of the China-Laos Railway, which is a strategic project of Laos and is in line with China's Belt and Road Initiative. In the past, the regional transport was mainly by sea, which was not conducive to landlocked countries like Laos. Therefore, Laos formulated a strategy to transform its land-locked status into a land-linked one. The China-Laos Railway project has directly promoted this strategy and is highly anticipated by the Lao people. The railway was built during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the project was completed on schedule thanks to the leadership of both heads of states, as well as to the dedicated builders. According to the analysis of real economic data, the performance of China-Laos Railway exceeds expectations, which has not only brought huge economic benefits, but also promoted the connectivity of the Kunming-Singapore Railway under the Belt and Road Initiative. With the help of the project, the exchanges between the people of Laos and China have become faster and more convenient. High mountains and long roads are no longer obstacles," Sonexay said.
He cited the example of products that Laos has exported to China via this crucial line.
"As I've said before, the China-Laos Railway has helped Laos achieve leapfrog development in freight transportation. The main products we export to China include beef cattle, rubber, fruits, and beans. In addition to agricultural products, we also export a lot of minerals to China, such as coal, iron ore and metallic ores," the prime minister said.
China-Laos Railway facilitates economic, people-to-people exchanges: Lao PM
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
