China and Laos Open Peace Train 2026 Medical Exercise in Vientiane

The Chinese and Lao militaries have launched the Peace Train-2026 humanitarian medical rescue joint exercise in Vientiane, Laos. A 150-member People's Liberation Army medical contingent arrived via the China-Laos Railway aboard a specialized PLA medical train. Scheduled to run for 17 days, the bilateral engagement marks the sixth iteration of the Peace Train series since 2017. The program combines command-and-rescue drills with subsequent free clinic services and medical lectures across Vientiane and three southern Lao provinces.

The exercise highlights the institutionalization of cross-border military-to-military medical cooperation and logistics between Beijing and Vientiane. By using the China-Laos Railway to transport a complete hospital train and personnel, the PLA demonstrates practical cross-border mobility and joint coordination capabilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions in mainland Southeast Asia.

The Chinese and Lao militaries have formally commenced the "Peace Train-2026" joint humanitarian medical rescue exercise in Vientiane, state media reported. The opening ceremony on September 7 brought together senior officials from the Lao Ministry of National Defense, General Staff departments, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Chinese Embassy's defense attaché. The exercise involves a 150-member People's Liberation Army (PLA) medical detachment formed primarily around the Army Medical University, alongside elements drawn from the PLA Air Force and the Joint Logistics Support Force, according to People's Daily. The contingent arrived in Vientiane on the morning of September 6, having deployed directly from China aboard a PLA medical train via the China-Laos Railway. Cross-border transit was facilitated by a dispatch center under the PLA Southern Theater Command, which coordinated with domestic and Lao agencies to streamline route planning, transport security, and customs clearance, according to Chinese reports. Song Caiping, head of the "Peace Train" medical team, noted that personnel completed 11 rounds of intensive skill training before departure and conducted drills in intelligent command and medical treatment while transit was underway. Addressing the opening ceremony, Wu Dan, head of the Chinese guidance and coordination group, observed that this event represents the sixth iteration of the series since its establishment in 2017. Major General Chanthy, director of the Lao People's Army General Logistics Department, credited the ongoing series with enhancing bilateral capacity in disaster relief and joint emergency medical operations, while Deputy Director Poxing noted that medical cooperation between the two armed forces has become increasingly systematic. Over the 17-day schedule, Chinese and Lao personnel will carry out combined command-and-rescue drills designed to test emergency responses to natural disasters. Following the tactical exercises, Chinese medical personnel will disperse to Vientiane Capital as well as Savannakhet, Champasak, and Attapeu provinces to offer specialized medical consultations, clinics, and academic lectures for local populations and military personnel.