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.

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

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the country's military not to carry out new airstrikes on Iran on Friday, breaking a streak of attacks that had continued for 13 consecutive days, Axios reported Saturday.

Citing two people familiar with the matter, the media report said that over the past two weeks Trump had approved military strike plans nearly every afternoon, with operations typically executed within hours. On Friday, however, Trump did not sign off on a similar plan and instead directed the military to stand down.

Axios said the pause signaled Trump's willingness to create more space for diplomatic efforts, while reflecting an assessment that the current level of airstrikes may have limited additional impact unless the U.S. escalates its campaign against Iran to a broader level.

The media report added that the U.S. military is still preparing plans for a possible return to large-scale operations, but that Trump has not made a decision.

Axios also reported that just hours before Trump ordered the pause on Friday, an Omani delegation arrived in Iran to discuss new arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to two regional sources, Axios noted, these negotiations have already made progress, and an agreement between Oman and Iran could potentially be reached over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Trump has signaled that the United States' next steps could hinge on whether the ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations with Iran could revive diplomatic efforts and bring an end to the war.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, he said the United States and Iran are in talks and that he believes Tehran is getting "more serious." However, he also warned that U.S. forces could intensify military action if necessary.

Trump ordered halt to Friday's strikes on Iran: media