The China-Laos Railway has recorded robust growth in cross-border cargo trade, with its first-quarter value rising 62.7 percent year on year to 6.81 billion yuan (about 992 million U.S. dollars), a record high for the period.
From January to March this year, exports of photovoltaic products surged 43.2 times year on year to 1.19 billion yuan, while imports of fresh and dried fruits doubled to 500 million yuan, according to Kunming Customs in the border province of Yunnan in southwest China.
The railway is emerging as an efficient two-way corridor for "Chinese manufactured goods heading south and Southeast Asian specialties heading north", the customs noted.
Since its launch, the total value of imports and exports via the railway had exceeded 80 billion yuan as of Tuesday.
The railway now serves over 6,000 enterprises across China, with its trade influence extending to 19 countries and regions, including Laos and Thailand. The range of traded goods has expanded from around 500 categories at the start of operations to more than 3,800.
Kunming Customs has introduced various measures to facilitate border trade along the railway.
The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operations in December 2021. The 1,035-km-long railway connects China's Kunming with Vientiane in Laos.
China-Laos Railway sees robust growth in cross-border trade
Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, among the hardest hit.
Lebanon's Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said that the airstrikes had killed 89 people and injured 722. The death toll continues to rise as the Israeli airstrikes continue.
Footage taken by a China Media Group (CMG) reporter in Beirut showed thick smoke billowing from densely packed buildings in the Lebanese capital after the attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying that it conducted a large-scale airstrike in multiple locations in Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military targets.
The IDF also mentioned that this is the largest strike since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel's airstrikes against Lebanon, saying that Israel has repeatedly violated international law and committed another act of genocide.
Aoun said Israel was blatantly violating all humanitarian principles and undermined efforts to achieve peace and stability, and Israel should bear full responsibility for the consequences of its actions.
Aoun also called on the international community to take action to curb Israel's aggressive behavior that threatens regional security.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that Lebanon welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, but Israel has continued to escalate its attacks, causing civilian casualties in Lebanon.
Salam also called on the international community to use all feasible measures to stop Israeli attacks.
Israeli airstrikes kill at least 89 across Lebanon, wounding over 700: Lebanese minister
