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Meet Somphone Inleuangsy, a trailblazing Laotian woman steering her way into history as one of the first female train drivers in Laos—a dream fueled by the transformative China-Laos Railway.
Completed in 2021, the 1,035-km railway has become a lifeline for regional connectivity, linking Vientiane to Kunming in the Chinese mainland. For Somphone, it’s not just tracks and trains: “This railway opened doors I never imagined,” she says, reflecting on her journey from rural Laos to the driver’s seat of a high-speed locomotive.
The project, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has created over 100,000 jobs in Laos, with women like Somphone shattering stereotypes in male-dominated fields. “I want to show young girls that they can chase any career,” she adds, her story resonating across Southeast Asia as a symbol of economic empowerment and cross-border collaboration.
With over 10 million passengers and 20 million tons of freight transported since its launch, the railway isn’t just moving people—it’s accelerating dreams. As regional ties strengthen, Somphone’s journey reminds us that infrastructure can be a catalyst for human potential—one track at a time.
NewspaperAmigo – Your Global News Buddy 
Breaking Barriers: Laotian Woman Drives Change on China-Laos Railway
As regional ties strengthen, Somphone’s journey reminds us that infrastructure can be a catalyst for human potential—one track at a time.
