Chinese border town rises amid development brought by China-Laos Railway

Mohan, a remote town located on the China-Laos border in southwest China's Yunnan Province, is undergoing rapid transformation into an international port city, driven by the fast development brought about by the China-Laos Railway, which began operation over three years ago.

Mohan, with a population of around 20,000, serves as a key hub on the China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Connecting Kunming in China with Vientiane in Laos, the 1,035-kilometer railway has experienced significant growth in both cross-border passengers and goods.

Luo Feng, general manager of Yunnan Mohan Development and Investment Group Co., Ltd., is both a key participant in and a witness to Mohan's growth.

"Our investment promotion efforts are progressing well. Looking ahead, our industrial park will focus on on-site processing and export-oriented industries," said Luo.

According to Luo, the construction of a 3.4-kilometer tunnel linking Mohan with the neighboring town of Boten in Laos will begin this year to facilitate flow of people and goods between the two sides.

"The tunnel is expected to open to traffic by the end of 2027. Upon completion, it will significantly improve the flow of people and goods between China and Laos, and enhance connectivity within the industrial park," said Luo.

To further facilitate the growing bilateral trade between China and Laos, the land port at Mohan is being expanded from two lanes to 12 lanes.

Meanwhile, people-to-people exchanges between China and Laos are also thriving. Just 40 kilometers from Mohan, an occupational high school accommodates over 500 students from Laos, with the number of applicants steadily increasing. "The China-Laos Railway is not only convenient and fast but also carries our dreams. The trains take us not only to China but also toward a brighter future," said Phetnavongxay Winner, a Lao student.

Since Feb 10, tour groups from ASEAN countries have been eligible for visa-free entry to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, with Mohan serving as a key entry point.

Experts predict that, with the ongoing advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, Mohan will become an increasingly important hub in Yunnan's role as a gateway to South and Southeast Asia.

Chinese border town rises amid development brought by China-Laos Railway

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the organization's member states to respect international law in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest remarks that he doesn't need international law.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said at a press conference on Friday that the UN chief's reaction to Trump's remarks "is to redouble his message to all member states to respect the international law they themselves created".

In an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, Trump declared that his global power is constrained only by his "own morality", saying it's the only thing that can stop him.

When asked whether his administration needs to abide by international law, Trump said he would be the arbiter when such constraints applied to the United States.

"It depends what your definition of international law is," he said.

The New York Times report said Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his worldview. At its core is the concept that national strength, rather than laws, treaties and conventions, should be the deciding factor as powers collide.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Maduro made his first court appearance on Jan 5 in New York, during which he pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges.

Amid tensions with Venezuela, Trump has claimed the United States absolutely needs Greenland, saying he might try "hard ways" to take over the island, which has a strategically critical position and rich resources.

The latest U.S. moves have drawn worldwide condemnation for its violation of Venezuela's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and international law.

UN chief calls for respect for international law in response to Trump’s remarks