The first China-Laos-Thailand-Malaysia express freight train departed from the Chengdu International Railway Port in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in regional trade connectivity.
The maiden train, carrying a full load of 30 containers of LCD monitors and new energy vehicles, will travel via the China-Laos Railway, then transition to rail networks in Laos, Thailand, and finally reach Port Klang in Malaysia.
This all-rail journey will take only five days to Thailand and eight days to Malaysia, significantly reducing transit time by around 50 percent compared to traditional sea route which started from Qinzhou City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"[Previously, our goods to Malaysia] were transported from Chengdu to Qinzhou by rail, and then from Qinzhou to Malaysia by sea. Now, with the China-Laos-Thailand-Malaysia express freight train, we can save about a week for the trip which used to take about 15 days," said Du Peiling, executive director of Sichuan New Bond International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd.
The launch of the new line will further expand the reach of China-Laos rail services, promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia.
It will also accelerate the development of the regional inland railway network, providing new support for the economic interaction and growth between Sichuan and Southeast Asia.
Chengdu's international train services have now reached 112 cities, with four new stops added this year, establishing a comprehensive international land-sea freight distribution system.
First China-Laos-Thailand-Malaysia express freight train departs from Chengdu
The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 35,562, health authorities in the Palestinian enclave said in a press statement on Monday.
Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 106 Palestinians and wounded 176 others, bringing the total death toll to 35,562 and injuries to more than 79,000 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the statement.
The health authorities emphasized that the medical emergency and civil defense workers are facing challenges in carrying out rescue operation as a large number of casualties are buried under the rubbles and ruins.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday said in a statement that the Israeli army continued to carry out military operations in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah and Jabalia in the northern Gaza.
Over the past day, Israeli airstrikes targeted about 80 targets in Gaza, including armed personnel, weapon storage facilities, rocket launch systems, and other infrastructures, said the statement.
The Israeli forces also claimed that, with the cooperation of Israeli intelligence department, they killed two senior Hamas members, but Hamas has not made any response to it.
In addition, Israeli forces claimed that, in collaboration with the Israeli intelligence department, they have killed two senior members of Hamas. However, Hamas has not made any response to it.
On Monday, Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, and the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, the Al-Quds Brigades, launched sustained attacks against the Israeli military.
In Jabalia, the Palestinian armed personnel used mortar shells to attack the Israeli military vehicles assembled to the east of Jabalia, and engaged in intense clashes with the Israeli soldiers.
In the eastern part of Rafah, Palestinian armed personnel said they launched successive attacks on the gathering sites of Israeli troops and vehicles. They also ambushed a group of Israeli soldiers, resulting in multiple casualties among the Israeli soldiers.
Israeli military sources said on Monday that about 950,000 Palestinians have been evacuated from Rafah as a result of the ongoing military operations in the area.
Currently, there are still an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 civilians remaining in Rafah, with the majority concentrated in the city center and the coastal area to the west of Rafah, as stated by the sources.
The Times of Israel reported on Monday, citing an Israeli official, that Israel is considering sending a delegation to participate in the upcoming prisoner exchange and ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, which will take place in the Qatari capital of Doha next week.
However, Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed this information.
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 35,562
