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Meet Eakvixay Tran, a 20-something Lao economics student at Tsinghua University who goes by the Chinese name Xiaolong—inspired by his love for Bruce Lee’s martial arts legacy. But his real-life adventure isn’t about kicks and punches; it’s riding the rails of the China-Laos Railway, a modern marvel connecting Kunming to his hometown of Vientiane.
After winning a university speech competition, Tran treated himself to a 3-day trip to Luang Prabang via the railway, calling it a 'game-changer' for Laos. 'I’ve seen new apartments, factories, and jobs popping up since the trains started running,' he says. The railway, launched in 2021, has turbocharged Laos’ economy, boosting employment and cross-border trade like a real-life K-drama plot twist.
Now, Tran plans to use his Tsinghua education to fuel business partnerships between China and Laos. 'This railway isn’t just steel and tracks—it’s a bridge for friendship and shared growth,' he adds. With Gen Z leaders like him, the future of Asia’s connectivity looks brighter than a TikTok filter.
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