The cross-border China-Laos Railway registered robust growth in both passenger and cargo throughput in 2024, official data show.
The China-Laos Railway handled 19.11 million passenger trips and transported 19.64 million tons of goods in 2024, up 15 percent and 10.5 percent respectively, according to the data released by China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd., which oversees operation of the China-Laos Railway.
In the year, the largest single-day passenger train trips handled by China-Laos Railway reached a record high of 98, with the number of passenger trips exceeding 100,000.
Currently, cross-border cargo transportation on the China-Laos Railway has covered all the 31 provincial-level regions in the Chinese mainland, as well as 19 other countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.
The 1,035-km railway, a flagship project within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, connects China's southwestern city of Kunming with the Laotian capital of Vientiane. It started operation on Dec. 3, 2021.
China-Laos railway sees robust growth in passenger, freight throughput in 2024
All 1,248 players of the 48 teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been confirmed following the submission of final squad lists to FIFA, the world football governing body announced Tuesday.
Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico will feature in their sixth World Cup campaigns, while Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan are going to play their first World Cup.
The tournament opens on June 11 and 104 matches will be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the final to be played on July 19.
"The confirmed squad lists underline the scale and enduring appeal of the tournament with 357 players returning after at least one previous FIFA World Cup squad inclusion. Some 891 players are set to experience the competition for the first time, highlighting both continuity and renewal across the global game," FIFA said.
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will be the oldest player at the tournament at 43 years and 162 days old, while Mexico's Gilberto Mora will be the youngest at 17 years and 240 days old. There will be 22 players under 20 years old and seven players aged 40 or above at the start of the tournament.
FIFA World Cup squads confirmed
