The CLR is a major project that helps enhance the synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategic ambition of transforming from landlocked to land-linked. Adopting Chinese technical standards, it is China’s first overseas railway project to be primarily funded and built by Chinese companies and connected to China’s railway network. Chinese-produced equipment and Chinese-developed smart manufacturing technologies are used to construct a quality railroad. Construction of the CLR’s Yuxi-Mohan line (Chinese section) and Boten-Vientiane line (Lao section) started simultaneously.

　　The use of advanced homegrown railroad maintenance equipment has helped realize fine control of the track quality and greatly improved efficiency. With operation information uploaded into the on-board system in advance, the CDC-16K tamping vehicle is capable of handling the whole tamping process from pre-operation measurement, precise alignment, and post-operation check. About 1,000 tons in weight, the machine can adjust track positions at a range of 0.1 millimeters.

　　Each unit of the DWL-48 stabilizer can fine tune five kilometers of tracks a day, six times more efficient than the manual operation. The SPZ-200 ballast tamper can modify the position of ballast at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour, leaving straight and evenly distributed ballast under the track. The GMC-96X rail grinder can analyze the rail profile based on the model, load, traffic flow of the operating trains before restoring the rails by grinding wheels underneath the vehicle, which helps shorten the run-in period of trains using the tracks, minimize irregularities from worn tracks, and ensure safe operation, comfortable ride for passengers and efficient freight transportation.