"Now it is the peak season of tropical fruits, and fruits from Southeast Asian countries arrive in Kunming by China-Laos Railway every day," Xu Chao, deputy general manager of CRIntermodal Kunming branch, told Xinhua.

For example, durians picked in Thailand are transported by bus to Vientiane in Laos and then sent to Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province via the railway, all in four days.

Thanks to the China-Laos Railway, goods such as cassava starch exported from Laos are sent to China every day. In turn, products, including fertilizers and electronic devices produced in China, are continuously sent to Laos.

As of August 10, the China-Laos Railway has transferred more than 4.5 million tonnes of cross-border goods, according to China Railway Kunming Bureau Group.

The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project stretching 1,035 kilometers, connects China's Kunming with Vientiane in Laos.

Its opening in December 2021 has greatly improved trade between the two countries.

During its 20-month operation, the rail link has seen more than 19 million visits covering passengers from 49 countries and regions and transported over 24 million tonnes of cargo, with cross-border cargo transport covering over 10 countries and regions.

The railway is "a milestone of friendship in the new era," said Manila Sombandith, consul general of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in Kunming.

China not only helped to build the railway but also established the first railway vocational and technical college in Vientiane, said a local teacher dispatched to China for training. "We will bring the railway knowledge we have learned here back to Laos."

The China-Laos Railway has been one of the demonstrations of the cooperation and profound friendship between Yunnan and South, Southeast Asian countries.

CRCC High-Tech Equipment Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) based in Kunming, delivered more than half of the 71 units of heavy railway maintenance equipment to South Asia in early July, reported China Daily.

The large demand from South Asian nations has been significant in recent years due to extensive railway networks and infrastructure modernization in some of these countries, Kang Yanjun, vice-president of CRCC High-Tech Equipment, told China Daily.

"In recent years, Yunnan has made remarkable achievements in promoting opening-up and development, establishing 11 multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms with South and Southeast Asian countries," Yang Bin, vice governor of the People's Government of Yunnan Province, said at a press conference in late July.

"It has formed a system of opening up along the border supported by multiple platforms, such as pilot free trade zones, cross-border economic cooperation zones, comprehensive bonded zones, border economic cooperation zones, various ports, as well as the China-South Asia Exposition," said Yang, adding that the province saw an increase of 6.3 percent in its imports and exports last year.

Sci-tech cooperation and exchanges

Focusing on building a science and technology innovation center for South and Southeast Asia, Yunnan has continuously strengthened cooperation with these countries in building innovation cooperation platforms, promoting technology transfer and carrying out scientific and technological people-to-people exchanges, said Li Chenyang, director general of the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province.

The province has formed a technology transfer cooperation mechanism with six South Asian countries and established a China-South Asia technology transfer cooperation network which has been joined by more than 800 units from South Asian countries, said Li.

The China-South Asia Technology Transfer Center, a national platform for international science and technology cooperation, has been established with sub-centers set up in six South Asian countries, Li said, adding that 10 international joint laboratories and research and development centers were built by Yunnan and five South Asian countries, with 16 provincial-level international science and technology cooperation bases.

Yunnan also highlights the transformation and application of sci-tech achievements to improve people's livelihoods. Partnered with South Asian countries, it has implemented 36 scientific and technological projects with 19 million yuan (about $2.6 million) in support, covering fields including agriculture, new energy, medical and health care.

In recent years, the province has conducted in-depth exchanges with scientists from South Asian countries through activities such as the Tengchong Scientists Forum and the Forum on China-South Asia Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation.

It also focuses on talent exchanges, which has attracted young scientific talents from South Asian countries to start businesses in Yunnan through favorable programs. It has also taken the country's lead in sending special scientific commissioners to neighboring countries, dispatching 31 commissioners in six batches to carry out science and technology services in South Asian countries.

Li said Yunnan will continue to give full play to its geographical advantages and accelerate the construction of science and technology innovation centers for South and Southeast Asia. 

It will also step up research cooperation with relevant institutions of South Asian countries, promote the transfer and application of scientific and technological achievements to boost regional development, and further strengthen the exchange of scientific talents with these countries.