The latest tender contracts for the second phase of the China-Laos railway project were signed in Vientiane on October 24. The signing included 11 contracts on civil engineering, construction supervision and third party testing.

The rail link is viewed as a demonstration project for the Belt and Road initiative. It will have a total length of 414 kilometres, running between the Mohan-Boten border gate to Vientiane. Operating speed will be 160km/h, and there will be 31 stations. The line will eventually form part of a continuous rail link from China to Singapore.

The estimated total project cost is around US$6 billion.  Sudsidiaries of China Railway Group have won an estimated $1.2 billion worth of contracts to construct various stages of the new line.