Additionally, the railway has significantly impacted the availability of goods. "Durian used to be a luxury fruit for us. Now, durians are everywhere in my city, and the prices of tropical fruits have become more affordable in Kunming," the tourist said.

An automotive sales professional who conducts business in Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand reflected on the past, "Previously, transporting goods by land was time-consuming and costly. However, the opening of the China-Laos Railway has completely changed the situation, not only boosting the sales of Lao products in China but also providing more employment opportunities for Laotians, allowing them to work in China with more income."

"I eagerly look forward to the full completion of the China-Southeast Asia Railway, which will further enhance cultural and economic exchanges between China and the countries along the route, promoting regional integration," said the automotive sales professional during his talk with the students.

Luo Ming, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the National University of Laos, shared his view of the project's impact with the students. He said that the China-Laos Railway project has a high demand for talent, making the Confucius Institute's enrollment extremely competitive.

"Before 2019, enrollment was mainly done offline, with long queues of applicants. After switching to online registration, all slots were filled within 25 to 35 seconds," he said.

The group members gained substantial insights through their participation, expressing admiration for the achievements of the BRI.

"This trip has deepened my understanding of the concept of 'unity of knowledge and action'. I have realized that only by addressing issues from a national perspective can we better serve our country and society," said Chen Junxi, a doctoral student at BJTU.

Li Boyu contributed to this story.