A China-Laos international freight train loaded with goods departed from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Wednesday, bound for Vientiane in Laos, bringing the railway's cumulative cargo volume past 80 million tonnes, including more than 18 million tonnes of cross-border shipments.

The cross-border railway line that spans more than 1,000 kilometers was launched on December 3, 2021.

China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. said such cross-border freight train operations have expanded significantly, with daily services increasing from two when it first launched to the current peak of 23.

As of Wednesday, a total of 71,000 freight trains have operated on this route. The types of cross-border goods have expanded from just over 10 items – including fertilizers and rubber – to more than 3,800, spanning chemicals, textiles, electrical products, and minerals, fueling regional economic vitality.

Annual cargo volumes have risen steadily, with 5.64 million tonnes being transported so far this year. The railway's freight service now reaches 19 countries and regions, including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh, and over 20,000 international freight trains have been dispatched.