China and Laos launch first 500-kV cross-border AC power link

On 2026-04-20, China and Laos launched the first 500-kV cross-border AC power interconnection, bringing the China-Laos project into operation. The line connects Yunnan Province with Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces and raises two-way transfer capacity from 50,000 kW to 1.5 million kW. Cross-border electricity trading began immediately, including transmission of clean power from northern Laos to Yunnan.