Since December, Laos has been home to a new high-speed rail connection connecting the capital to China. It is a boon for many in the poor, Southeast Asian country, but is it a luxury it can really afford?
Luang Prabang province in northern Laos is more than 300 kilometers away from the capital of Laos Vientiane. A trip between it and the capital used to take up to seven hours by car, but now it only takes about 2.2 hours by train, a shortcut that local Lao Anly and her family are grateful for each day.
The arrival of a new Chinese high-speed train and the installation of several container terminals should enable the country to serve as a hub for trade between China, Thailand and Vietnam.
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Washington - Laos, deeply indebted to China for large-scale infrastructure projects, is at high risk of defaulting on its obligations, according to expe