The China-Laos Railway had welcomed more than 600,000 cross-border passengers as of Wednesday, injecting new vitality into the tourism industry along the route and the regional economic development.
The China-Laos Railway officially opened in December 2021 and launched international services linking Kunming and Vientiane in April 2023. The international service has been continuously optimized by railway authorities of both countries to meet the rising demand for cross-border travel.
To meet growing demand, this railway service added a second pair of international trains between Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and Vientiane,capital of Laos on July 18 this year, doubling the number of daily trains to four. Each train now offers up to 420 seats, with daily passenger numbers reaching over 1,400.
To date, travelers from 115 countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, the United States and the United Kingdom, have taken the cross-border trains, fueling tourism, hotels and restaurants along the route. The accelerated flow of passengers, cargoes and information has injected new vitality into the regional economic development.
China-Laos Railway transports over 600,000 cross-border passenger trips
Russia said Sunday that its forces had hit Ukrainian military facilities, while Ukraine said on the same day that it shot down or neutralized 152 Russian drones and launched an attack on a Russian oil terminal.
In a daily report, the Russian Defense Ministry said that over the past 24 hours, the Russian forces struck Ukrainian transport infrastructure, depots for military-technical supplies, and facilities for drone assembly, storage and launch.
The ministry also said that the Russian forces conducted a precision strike on a large dry-cargo ship and destroyed an enemy uncrewed vessel in the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the city had been hit by a large-scale drone attack, leaving one person dead and five others injured.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it had shot down or neutralized 152 Russian drones between 18:00 Saturday and 08:00 Sunday. Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point also reported that Ukrainian forces had used drones to strike an oil terminal, an oil depot and a data center in St. Petersburg. Fires broke out at the oil depot and the terminal, while the data center sustained severe damage.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had attacked electrical substations in several regions, including Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr, on Saturday night.
Zelenskyy also said he held a phone call with U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss the outcomes of a meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. representatives held on Oct. 9 in Florida, as well as next steps.
He said the two sides had also discussed the possible provision of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. Zelenskyy added that the Russia-Ukraine conflict must end, emphasizing that the U.S. position is crucial to the process.
Russia reports strikes on Ukrainian facilities, Ukraine says it hit Russian oil terminal
Russia reports strikes on Ukrainian facilities, Ukraine says it hit Russian oil terminal
