The Belt and Road · Zero Distance | A "Iron Dragon" across mountains and rivers | China Laos | Railway | One

Kunming/Vientiane, August 14th, Xinhua News Agency - Question: A "Steel Dragon" Spanning Mountains and Rivers

Xinhua News Agency reporters Fan Xi, Ding Yiquan, Zhao Xu

The total number of passengers sent along the entire line exceeded 19 million, and entry and exit passengers from 49 countries and regions were checked and released; More than 24 million tons of goods have been transported, and cross-border freight transport covers more than 10 countries and regions... Since its opening 20 months ago, the quantity and quality of passenger and freight transport in China Laos railway have increased simultaneously.

Starting from Kunming, China in the north and ending in Vientiane, Laos in the south, the 1035 km long "Iron and Steel Giant Dragon" has crossed mountains and rivers, promoted economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Laos and countries jointly building the "the Belt and Road", and become a golden channel connecting inside and outside, radiating around, and two-way mutual aid.

The "Fuxing" train passes the Yuanjiang Bridge of the China Laos Railway. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao

Material "two-way rush"

"Now it is the peak time for tropical fruits to come into the market. Every day, fruits from Southeast Asian countries are transported to Kunming through the China Laos Railway." Xu Chao, deputy general manager of China Railway Union Kunming Branch, said that since July, tropical fruits such as durian and mangosteen transported to Kunming through the China Laos Railway have reached about 300 tons per day.

"The durian picked from Thailand is transported by car to Vientiane, Laos, and then sent to Kunming, China, via the China Laos Railway 'Lancang Mekong Express'. The whole process only takes four days." Fan Ligang, the person in charge of Guangzhou Fanguoduo Trade Co., Ltd., said that the timely transportation guaranteed the quality of durian. In the past, the company's main markets were in Guangdong and Qingdao, and was ready to rely on the China Laos Railway to expand the markets in Chengdu and Guizhou.

On the assembly line of Zhonghe Rubber Co., Ltd. in Mengnan County, Luang Prabang Province, Laos, blocks of mixed rubber are packaged and stored in the warehouse. Every month, 3000 tons of products produced by the company will be sent to China from Luang Prabang Station by the China Laos Railway International Freight Train.

After the opening of the China Laos Railway, Zhonghe Rubber Co., Ltd. in Mengnan County, Luang Prabang Province, Laos handed over all products to the railway for transportation. "Each ton can save a lot of shipping costs," said Yang Shixian, the relevant person in charge of the company. The reduction in transportation costs has created conditions for employee income growth.

Today, the cassava starch, barley and other goods exported from Laos to China are sent to Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing and other places every day through the China Laos railway, and fertilizers, general merchandise, electronic products and other products produced in China are continuously sent to Laos. Materials from China and Laos "go in two directions" to promote win-win business integration along the China Laos railway.

According to the statistics of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd., as of August 10, the cumulative cross-border cargo transported by China Laos Railway has exceeded 4.5 million tons.

On April 13, the "Fuxing" and "Lancang" EMUs stopped at Mohan Station of China Laos Railway. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao

The Golden Passage of Tourism

On April 13 of this year, the China Laos Railway International Passenger Train officially opened. Kunming Vientiane can be reached by train on the same day. The people of the two countries have more convenient exchanges, and China Laos cross-border tourism ushers in good development.

Kunming, Yuxi, Pu'er, and Xishuangbanna in China; Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Laos... The China Laos Railway is a golden tourism channel that runs through China and Southeast Asia with unique customs and rich tourism resources. The Kunming International Sister Cities Tourism Alliance, initiated and established by Kunming, is planning to take the "express train" of China Laos railway to accelerate the construction of a new ecology of cross regional tourism coordinated development.

As a "popular network" station on the golden tourism line of the China Laos Railway, Xishuangbanna Station has constantly refreshed the peak passenger flow. Li Qiang, Director of the Culture and Tourism Administration of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, said that the China Laos Railway has met the needs of the vast number of Chinese and Laotian tourists for cross-border travel and outbound tourism, which is of great significance to promoting the development of tourism and other industries in both countries.

While domestic travel agencies are busy organizing "Laos tours", Laotian merchants are also sniffing out business opportunities.

Not long ago, Lao youth Wang Wei, Wen Pengyu, and other investors registered and established Yunnan Laozhong International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. at the Kunming Comprehensive Service Center of the China Free Trade Zone. "More and more Chinese tourists are visiting Laos, and I hope our travel agency can serve as a bridge to allow more Laotians to have the opportunity to visit China," said Wang Wei.

The international passenger train of the China Laos Railway has been running for 4 months, bringing about 50000 passengers from 49 countries and regions to cross-border travel.

Since July 25, the new train diagram has been implemented by the China Laos Railway. The whole journey time between Kunming and Vientiane has been shortened from 10 hours and 30 minutes to 9 hours and 26 minutes, which is 64 minutes shorter. The international passenger train of China Laos Railway is steadily moving towards the goal of "from smooth to smooth, from smooth to fast, from fast to good".

The scene of cargo transportation at Vientiane South Station of China Laos Railway was taken on August 9, 2022. Shen Jizhong

Friendship on the New Silk Road

On July 31st, the first batch of 40 railway teachers from Laos completed a one-year and a half professional knowledge learning at Kunming Railway Vocational and Technical College. On August 2nd, they returned to Laos.

The China Laos Railway ended the history of no railway in Laos. Manila Songbandi, Consul General of the Consulate General of Laos in Kunming, said, "This railway is a milestone in the new era of friendship between the two countries."

"China not only helped us build railways, but also helped us establish the first railway vocational and technical college in Vientiane. We are the first batch of teachers from the Laos Railway Vocational and Technical College selected by the Ministry of Education to train in China. We will bring the railway knowledge we have learned here back to Laos," said Putaga Sirifun, a teacher who participated in the training, at the graduation ceremony.

China actively trains railway professionals for Laos, and improves the post quality and ability of Laos employees of the China Laos Railway by compiling and publishing Chinese Laos bilingual training materials and taking practical exercises with teachers and apprentices. At present, more than 500 Laos employees have taken part in the work.

Lao employee Yang Ye is a member of the Bridge and Tunnel Team in the Vientiane South Comprehensive Maintenance Area of the Luang Prabang Maintenance Center.

"When I first got into this job, I was not familiar with railway terminology and didn't know how to use various tools, so I felt that I was not competent. Under the guidance of my Chinese teacher, I overcame difficulties step by step and persisted," Yang Ye said.

The China Laos railway has brought the two countries closer, and the story of friendship has been written constantly. "The 'hard connection' of railway tracks has promoted the 'heart connection' of the people of China and Laos," said Ma Yong, director of the Southeast Asian Research Institute of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences.

On April 13, the China Laos Railway opened an international passenger train, and passengers taking the first train took a group photo on the train. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao

On April 13, the China Laos Railway opened an international passenger train, and passengers taking the first train were ready to board at Kunming South Station. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao

The freight trains of China Laos Railway load goods at Kunming Central Station of China Railway Union. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Chao

On July 31st, the first batch of 40 railway teachers from Laos who completed their professional knowledge learning celebrated at the graduation ceremony at Kunming Railway Vocational and Technical College. Shen Jizhong

On June 21, in Vientiane, Laos, Lao youth took photos in front of the "Lancang" multiple unit of the China Laos railway. Shen Jizhong

On May 24, 2022, in Vientiane, Laos, employees of both sides of the China Laos Railway greeted passengers together. Shen Jizhong

On July 31, 2022, passengers will arrive in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, by taking the "Lancang" multiple unit of the China Laos railway. Shen Jizhong

On April 10, under the guidance of Zhao Yunlong, a Chinese master, Yang Ye carried out a bridge inspection at the Mowan Section of the China Laos Railway. Shen Jizhong

On December 1, 2022, in Luang Prabang, Laos, employees of both sides of the China Laos Railway jointly maintain the line. Shen Jizhong

On May 24, Luang Prabang Station of China Laos Railway organized goods shipment in an orderly manner. Shen Jizhong