China-Laos Railway reports strong cross-border trade, travel growth in January

The China-Laos Railway, a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project, recorded a robust performance in January, with cross-border cargo and passenger traffic both achieving significant growth.

According to Kunming Customs in southwest China's Yunnan Province, the railway transported 478,000 tons of goods in January, marking a 7-percent increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of cross-border passengers reached 29,000, representing a 63-percent year-on-year rise. Travelers from 112 countries and regions used the service, highlighting the railway's expanding reach.

Since its launch in 2021, the China-Laos Railway has transported over 43 million passengers and moved more than 48.3 million tons of cargo.

Preparations of the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) are in full swing as most booths are being installed and exhibits are arriving via customs' fast clearance channel.

According to organizers, this year's expo, set to be held at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in south China from April 13 to 18, covers 143,000 square meters of exhibition space, an increase of 13,000 square meters from the previous edition. More than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions across the world have been registered to participate in the exhibition, with international exhibits accounting for 65 percent of the total.

The booth materials and exhibits from both China and overseas are mainly arriving via Xinhai Harbour, with local customs authorities providing dedicated clearance channel and 24/7 appointment-based clearance service at key ports including Haikou Meilan International Airport and Yangpu Port.

Jointly hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, the sixth expo marks the first edition of the event since the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) fully launched island-wide special customs operations in December last year.