LAOS

As a landlocked country, Lao PDR is targeting development to transform it into a “landlinked country.” The Vision of Lao 2030 and the National Development Strategy (20162025) both draw on the BRI to support their strategies. Investment from PRC has been increasing in Laos since the early 1990s and in 2013 it became the largest investor in Laos. In 2017, PRC became the top donor and investor and second-largest trading partner for Laos.117

The $5.9 billion, 422 km high-speed rail project connecting Vientiane to Boten Town in China is the largest BRI project in Laos. The project was started in December 2016 and operating as of December 2021. This railway facilitates a significant increase in trade, investment, tourism, and industry development. It forms part of the proposed Pan-Asia Railway Network (see Figure 14). However, critics suggest that the risks and impacts of the railway have not been explicitly or sufficiently considered, particularly issues relating to governance, corruption, pollution, and adverse social impacts.118

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