China and Laos say their rail project is on track

China and Laos are both committed to a high-speed rail project linking the Chinese southwestern city of Kunming with the Lao capital of Vientiane, officials from both countries said, and the project will go ahead despite delays. The line should eventually stretch through Thailand and Malaysia to Singapore, and is part of an ambitious plan for China to develop infrastructure links across Asia, known as the “One Belt, One Road” project. Vientiane hosted an elaborate ground-breaking ceremony for the $7 billion project in December, but nearly eight months later, construction has yet to begin in Laos.

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