Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (C) attends a commissioning ceremony for the China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection project in Vientiane, Laos, April 20, 2026. A commissioning ceremony for the China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection project was held simultaneously on Monday in Lao capital Vientiane and Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking a significant boost in power connectivity and mutual support capacity between the two countries. More than 100 representatives from government and business sectors of both China and Laos attended the ceremony in Vientiane, where Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone pressed the start button for the project. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
VIENTIANE, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A commissioning ceremony for the China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection project was held simultaneously on Monday in Lao capital Vientiane and Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking a significant boost in power connectivity and mutual support capacity between the two countries.
More than 100 representatives from government and business sectors of both China and Laos attended the ceremony in Vientiane, where Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone pressed the start button for the project.
In his speech, Meng Zhenping, chairman of China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. (CSG), said the project will enable two-way power transmission capacity of up to 1.5 million kilowatts. It is expected to deliver an average of 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, supporting the transition to greener, low-carbon energy systems and bringing tangible benefits of modernization to people in both countries.
Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith said the project will become a key artery in the country's power sector once operational. He noted that it will help ease domestic transmission constraints and support the development of renewable energy in northern Laos.
In her address, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong described the project as a "green energy artery" that enhances bilateral connectivity. She added that China is ready to use such initiatives as a model to deepen cooperation in new energy, support Laos' energy transition, and advance bilateral ties to a broader scope, deeper level, and higher standard, injecting sustained momentum into building a closer China-Laos community with a shared future.
The project is a key initiative under the China-Laos action plan for building a community with a shared future. Construction began in February 2025.
The transmission line stretches 177.5 kilometers, linking China's Yunnan Province with the northern Lao provinces of Oudomxay and Luang Namtha. Of the total length, 145 km is located in China and 32.5 km in Laos.
The respective sections are constructed and operated by the CSG and the Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T). ■
