The China-Laos Railway, a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub, is to welcome its first anniversary since its launch on December 3, 2021.

Over the past year, the electrified passenger and cargo railway has shortened the traveling time between cities along the route, bolstering passenger and freight transportation, tourism, and cross-border trade in Laos.

The railway stretches over 1,000 kilometers, linking Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, with the Lao capital Vientiane.

According to the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), a joint venture based in Vientiane and responsible for the operation of the railway's Lao section, so far, the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway has shipped a total of around 2 million tonnes of goods and has carried 1.26 million passengers.

The LCRC operation director, Du Zhigang, told Xinhua recently that the amount of freight transportation has been showing an upward trend since its opening.

"The train tickets are quite popular because our passengers are eager to experience our EMUs (electric multiple units), especially those from neighboring countries, like Thailand," Du said. 

Revive tourism 

A report issued by the Tourism Development Department under the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism at the end of August showed a positive outlook for the country's tourism industry.

The full operation of the China-Laos Railway, the appeal of the scenic Vangvieng, the Luang Prabang World Heritage Site, and the low value of Lao's currency kip, are among the main attractions for visitors from neighboring countries, the report said. 

In the first 10 months of 2022, 335,794 tourists, comprising 85.27 percent of the total, arrived in Luang Prabang by train, Chansamone Thipphavanh, deputy head of Luang Prabang province's Information, Culture and Tourism Department told local media recently. 

Train travel allows easier connection with neighboring countries, she added. 

Read more:

China-Laos Railway promotes connectivity in Southeast Asia

Boost cross-border trade

Since the opening of the railway, freight transport has shown a rising trend. The total quantity of freight transported by the China-Laos Railway had exceeded 10 million tonnes as of November 7, according to China Railway Kunming Bureau Group. Among the total, the cross-border cargo transportation volume topped 1.8 million tonnes, with its value hitting 12 billion yuan (about $1.66 billion)

Xu Jiefeng, from Kunming East Railway Station, said that the international freight trains of the China-Laos Railway make the logistics transportation between the two countries fast and cost-controllable. 

Since the opening of the railway, its freight transportation volume has increased month by month, Xu noted.

So far, 25 provincial-level regions in China have operated international freight trains on the China-Laos Railway, and freight transportation has covered countries and regions including Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore.

The cargo has expanded to more than 1,200 categories, including chemical fertilizers, electronic and photovoltaic products, and cold-chain fruits.

(With input from Xinhua)