As the China-Laos 500-kilovolt interconnection project hurtled toward full operation, few were as busy as Fenta Sisoulath, an employee of Electricite du Laos Transmission Company, EDL-T.

Inside the Namor 3 Substation in northern Laos, he has taken on a new role — mentoring 21 newly recruited Lao technicians, walking his colleagues through the inner workings of complex electrical systems.

"When I was studying in China, the engineers from China Southern Power Grid who came to visit us felt like mentors," he said. "Now we are working side by side. In Chinese, people call that yuanfen — a kind of special connection or fate that brings people together."

For Fenta, that sense of connection came from a scholarship that reshaped his future.

The China Southern Power Grid scholarship program was created to support students from countries part of the Lancang-Mekong region. Over the years, many Lao students have enrolled in educational institutions such as the Kunming University of Science and Technology and Chongqing University, pursuing degrees in electrical engineering, management and related fields.

Seven years ago, Fenta was among the first group of Lao students to be accepted into the program. He arrived in Kunming with ambition, but little Chinese language ability. The coursework, dense with specialized terminology, proved daunting.

"There were moments when I thought I couldn't continue," he said. "I couldn't even imagine myself working in the power sector one day." But now, seven years on, he has become a vital bridge — not only transferring technical knowledge, but also connecting two increasingly intertwined cultures.

During construction, both sides prioritized localized employment and professional management, hiring more than 500 person-times of Lao employees. From construction sites to control rooms, they are involved in nearly every stage of development and operation, working alongside Chinese colleagues on a project that spans borders as much as it does disciplines.

Local employment

As cooperation deepens, Laos' power workforce is steadily expanding. More Lao employees have stepped into key technical and managerial roles. The proportion of local employees at EDL-T has risen to 85 percent by 2025.

Beyond scholarships, China Southern Power Grid has established a range of initiatives, from professional courses to on-the-job training. As bilateral cooperation continues to grow, China Southern Power Grid said it plans to further expand its training system. In 2026, it expects to organize 27 international training programs across 28 sessions, reaching nearly 590 participants from ASEAN countries, with Lao trainees forming a significant share.

Beyond infrastructure, the project has also sought to address broader gaps in local services. Education has become central to the partnership, said Xie Min, deputy general manager of EDL-T.

During construction, project teams found that some primary schools in remote areas of Laos lacked basic facilities. In response, a new school was built in Namor Tai village, near the project's substation along the China-Laos border. Opened in December 2025, the 3,185-square-meter campus was funded by EDL-T, offering improved learning conditions for local children.

"Our goal has been to cultivate talent for the country's development and its power sector. What matters most is that they can contribute to Lao society."

As the new semester draws near, the primary school is ready to welcome its young pupils — a lasting investment in the future of Laos.