China-Laos Railway expected to keep accelerating regional prosperity: spokesman

The China-Laos Railway is expected to keep accelerating regional prosperity along the route, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday, in commenting on the latest addition of a new pair of trains to the China-Laos Railway international tourist train transport service.

The China-Laos Railway added one pair of trains, running between Xishuangbanna of China and Luang Prabang of Laos, for the international passenger service on Saturday, the first anniversary of the launch of the China-Laos Railway's international passenger service. Passengers can make the round trip between the two locations within one day.

"The China-Laos Railway is a leading project between China and the Indo-China Peninsula countries to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and enhance connectivity. Since its entry into operation over two years ago, the railway service has experienced continuous growth in both passenger and freight volume, making travel more convenient for passengers, providing a strong driving force for high-quality economic development of the two countries, and becoming an important link connecting countries in the region," said Lin Jian, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing.

"The China-Laos Railway international tourist trains connect Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Luang Prabang, Vientiane and other famous cities, greatly facilitating tourist travel to the historical sites and natural scenic spots along the routes. In the past year, 734 train trips have been operated, seeing 700,000 passenger trips, and attracting more than 180,000 cross-border visits by tourists from 87 countries and regions," he said.

During the initial period, the newly added trains run four days a week, every Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The whole trip has six stops and takes approximately five hours to complete a journey. It indicates that the China-Laos Railway has played a significant role in boosting development of the tourism industry along the route, stimulating new driving forces for consumption, and promoting China-Laos cultural exchanges and economic and trade cooperation, Lin said.

"China and Laos are friendly socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers and a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. The China-Laos Railway has witnessed the beautiful story of shared future and mutual achievements of the two countries. It has also brought historic opportunities for China, Laos, and neighboring ASEAN countries in terms of great openness, great development, and great growth. We look forward to the continuous acceleration of the China-Laos Railway, pressing the 'fast-forward button' to promote regional prosperity and create a harmonious picture of people-to-people bonds and development integration," said the spokesman.

A year ago, the China-Laos Railway launched its international passenger service, with one pair of trains running between Kunming in China and Vientiane in Laos.

The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operations in December 2021. The 1,035-km railway connects China's Kunming with Vientiane in Laos.

The China-Laos railway project is actually a section of the Kunming-Singapore Railway Project, which connects Kunming with Singapore, passing through Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia.

China-Laos Railway expected to keep accelerating regional prosperity: spokesman

China-Laos Railway expected to keep accelerating regional prosperity: spokesman

The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.

During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.

The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.

David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.

"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.

Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.

The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.

"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.

Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.

"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.

Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange