Laos gets it first expressway with Chinese help

Construction of the Vientiane-Vangvieng section was a joint effort of the government of Laos and Yunnan Construction and Investment Holding Group. Work on the 111-km highway began in December 2018. It was finished 13 months ahead of schedule, despite the outbreak of COVID-19, the company said.

An opening ceremony was held in Vientiane and Kunming online to mark the moment on Sunday. Officials from both countries attended.

The expressway is a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, a milestone in promoting comprehensive strategic cooperation of the two countries and a starting point for enhancing people-to-people communications.

Zhou Jiaxin contributed to the story.