A group of 24 students and faculty from Beijing Jiaotong University started a week-long social practice program last week via the China-Laos Railway to Vientiane, Laos, to witness and experience the development of countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the journey, they engaged in discussions with China-Laos Railway staff, passengers, and representatives from the Confucius Institute of the National University of Laos, collectively witnessing the remarkable achievements of the China-Laos Railway.

The group includes Chinese and international students from various academic disciplines at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels.

Zhang Zhendong, the train station head of the Vientiane operation and management center, shared some statistics with the group to highlight the significance of the China-Laos Railway.

"Since the railway opened, both passenger and freight volumes have exceeded expectations. The daily passenger count has surged from over 2,000 at the start to a peak of more than 14,000, and freight volume has jumped from over 4,000 tons per day to 20,000 tons," Zhang said.

A tourist traveling to Luang Prabang compared the travel experience before and after the opening of the China-Laos Railway.

"Before the opening of the railway, it took two days of driving to reach Laos for a trip. Now, it only takes a few hours to travel from Kunming to Laos," she said.