Lao singer winning hearts with songs about China-Laos friendship

STORY: Lao singer winning hearts with songs about China-Laos friendship DATELINE: Jan. 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: KUNMING, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China-Laos Railway 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Lao): ATHISAK RATANAVONG, Singer 3. various of Athisak Ratanavong and passengers 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WU SHIYU, Passenger 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Lao): ATHISAK RATANAVONG, Singer STORYLINE: A singer in Laos has gained many followers in his country and China, with his songs about Laos-China friendship. Athisak Ratanavong sang about the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the China-Laos Railway, which started operation in late 2021. In recent weeks, after border crossing reopened following China's optimization of its COVID-19 response, Athisak traveled to China's Kunming via the landmark cross-border railway. SOUNDBITE 1 (Lao): ATHISAK RATANAVONG, Singer "As a singer, I often go to northern Laos to perform. I used to take the car, and the journey was long and tiring. Now, with the