Nikkei Asia (December 2) disclosed that the number of passengers, which includes Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanah, on the inaugural run on December 2, of the 'Lane Xang' bullet train has been reduced due to Covid protocols. The bullet train covers the 414-kms from Vientiane to Boten, a northern frontier town along the Laos-China border, which normally takes 2 days in approx. 3 hours. An estimated 60%, or $3.6 billion, of the high-speed railway's cost has been funded by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. The Lao-China Railway Company, a joint venture between the countries, has been covering the remaining 40%. But China holds a 70% stake in the venture, and Laos' share is funded by $250 million from the national budget and $450 million via another loan from the Export-Import Bank. It is a US$ 6 billion project
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