China-Laos green power corridor protects elephant habitat

The China-Laos 500-kilovolt power interconnection project, a key energy cooperation initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative, achieved a significant milestone on Thursday as its transmission line was connected across the shared border.

The project stands out for its extensive environmental protection measures implemented while traversing the rainforest habitat of wild Asian elephants.

Scheduled for full operation this year, the project will establish two-way power exchange capacity of 1.5 million kilowatts, enabling the annual transmission of three billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity, and facilitating optimized, large-scale clean energy allocation across the region.

Stretching 177.5 kilometers from northern Laos' Oudomxay Province to southwest China's Yunnan Province, the project's most sensitive segment crosses through protected forests that are home to wild Asian elephants, prompting the project team to prioritize ecological protection from the outset.

To minimize ground disturbance, engineers deployed an aerial transport fleet of drones and helicopters, delivering more than 5,000 tons of materials directly to tower construction sites. This method has reduced environmental impact by over 90 percent compared with traditional road-based construction.

"Using drones and helicopters for transport is an investment in environmental protection and reflects our commitment to high-quality development," said Fu Weibin, deputy manager of the project.

The project also introduced "elephant guardians", specialists who monitor herd movements using a smart warning app, satellite observation systems, and drones to keep both animals and construction crews safe. "Elephant guardians use an early-warning app to basically identify the location of elephant herds. They then combine that with our forest sky-eye monitoring system, video surveillance, and drones to closely track the herd's movements and promptly notify construction personnel," said Wen Ronghui, a technical expert.

Upon completion, the line will serve as a clean energy corridor, integrating hydro and solar power from northern Laos and enhancing electricity exchange between the two countries. It is expected to boost regional power connectivity and support low-carbon growth across the Lancang-Mekong sub-region.

China-Laos green power corridor protects elephant habitat

China-Laos green power corridor protects elephant habitat

Spanish students have expressed their expectation that a healthy China-U.S. economic and trade relationship will inject greater stability into the global economy and create greater opportunities for Spain.

On Sunday, Chinese and U.S. delegations convened in Paris, France for talks on economic and trade issues. Guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Busan and their subsequent phone talks, the two sides will conduct consultations on economic and trade matters of mutual concern.

Ahead of the talks, members of the public in Madrid, Spain, shared their views on China–U.S. economic and trade relations with China Media Group (CMG). They agreed that reaching an agreement between the world’s two largest economies would have a direct impact on the global landscape.

"They are the two countries that contribute the most economically, in a manner of speaking, to the rest of the countries. They are major importers and exporters. So I think that a satisfactory relationship between them can be very beneficial for all other countries," said Claudia, an engineering student.

Noting that both sides are important trading partners of Spain, the interviewees stated that a healthy, stable and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship also affects various aspects of the Spanish society, and that agreements between the two countries would help promote Spain's economic growth.

"I do think that it could have a certain effect on the Spanish economy, both in terms of prices, and I would dare say employment as well. Because I think that if those two great powers reach an agreement, Spain could also get in on the action. It would create quite a few jobs in Chinese and American multinationals for all Spaniards," said Claudia.

"Spain is caught in the middle; it has good relations with both the U.S. and China. If it gets on the bad side of either one, it could be hit hard, because Spain mainly relies on tourism -- well, other things too, but essentially tourism, construction and agriculture. It's very important to have more help and trade with all countries around the world," said Denis, a law student.

Spanish students say stable China-US ties benefit global economy