Border town witnesses booming trade, exchanges after launch of China-Laos Railway

The border town of Mohan in southwest China's Yunnan Province has seen a dramatic surge in cross-border trips and trade in goods since the launch of the China-Laos Railway in December 2021.

Data shows that the railway has operated over 3,000 passenger trains, facilitating the entry and exit of 840,000 travelers from more than 120 countries and regions through the Mohan Port.

Recent passengers noted that the route's popularity has made it a unique way to connect with fellow travelers from around the world.

"I was backpacking in Southeast Asia, taking the China-Laos Railway from Vientiane back to China. The travel experience has really improved a lot. I have met many European and American backpackers, who also entered China via this railway," said Li Wanxin, a traveler from northwest China's Gansu Province.

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, currently on a five-day state visit to China, recently praised the railway project for helping open up trade opportunities for the landlocked country.

Already, the rail link has boosted bilateral trade with China, transforming Laos into a major agricultural export hub.

As tropical fruits like durian are now in their peak harvest season, the freight yard of Mohan Port is busy unloading imports from Laos.

Through seamless cold-chain logistics, freshly picked Lao fruits can now reach Chinese markets on the same day.

"The Lancang-Mekong Express international cold-chain freight train can now arrive in Kunming in just 26 hours. Via rail-road intermodal transport, the cargo can reach Shanghai, Hangzhou and other cities within 40 hours. In the meantime, new energy vehicles and specialty plateau agricultural products also travel south on the railway. The opening-up paradigm where trains bring temperate products to Laos and take back tropical products has taken shape," said Liu Qi, a local customs officer.

The growing flow of people and goods has also driven Mohan's industrial upgrading. As a large number of workers in cross-border warehousing, sorting, logistics and trade gather in Mohan, the town's supporting industries have become increasingly complete in recent years.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with Myanmar's Minister for Foreign Affairs Tin Maung Swe, in Beijing on Friday.

Li said that China will, as always, support Myanmar in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and the country is ready to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation, strengthen friendly exchanges between the legislatures, promote closer people-to-people ties and promote the sustainable development of China-Myanmar relations.

Tin Maung Swe said Myanmar firmly abides by the one-China principle and is willing to carry forward the "pauk-phaw" ("fraternal" in the Myanmar language) friendship between the two countries, jointly implement the four major global initiatives, deepen practical cooperation and advance exchanges between legislative bodies.