Happiness arrives at full speed via China-Laos Railway

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December 3, 2024 marks the third anniversary of the China-Laos Railway's inauguration. For three years, this 1,035-kilometer transnational railway connecting China and Laos has brought prosperity and happiness racing forward.

Development on the Fast Track

KATAI MARKNOXA, a news anchor for Laos National Television (LNTV), shared:“As journalists, we’ve witnessed the magic of ‘where the train goes, development follows.’ Even in the most remote villages, the railway has transformed lives. The changes brought by the China-Laos Railway are still remarkable today.”

Convenience on the Fast Track

Malaysian traveler Lim Yew Kwee said: “I’m thrilled that Malaysia now enjoys visa-free access to China. This saves me time and money. Traveling to Xishuangbanna on the China-Laos Railway is so convenient and comfortable.”

“It has cut the cost and time of transporting fresh ingredients across borders," restaurant owner Ms. Gong, who operates in both Kunming and Mohan, praised the railway.

She also said that fresh Chinese delicacies could now appear on Laotian tables the same day. The railway has brought in people, goods, and profits. “I’m earning more than ever."

Light and Power on the Fast Track

Liu Jinxiao, responsible for the external power supply project of the railway's Laos section, beamed with pride: “Since its launch, the project has continuously improved the power reliability along the railway, lighting up thousands of homes along the route.”

 

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Prosperity on the Fast Track

Yang Shixian, Deputy General Manager of Luang Prabang Zhonghe Rubber Company, shared: “We used to rely solely on trucks. Rail transport is faster, more cost-effective, and stable, reducing costs by up to 50% and significantly increasing profits.”

Lao farmers joke that “the smell of rubber is the smell of wealth.” Villagers now either work at rubber plantations or grow their own rubber, building new homes and better lives.

Sweet Harvests on the Fast Track

Thanks to international cold-chain freight trains, the transport time for Laotian bananas from Vientiane to Beijing has been cut from 13 days to just 7. Zhang Zhongyi, General Manager of Beijing Yongxin Hengchang Company introduced the situation to all.

“Lao bananas, grown in tropical rainforests, are soft, sweet, and popular with consumers,” added he.

On October 20, 390 tons of Lao bananas arrived in Beijing via the China-Laos Railway, supplying markets and online channels in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Within two weeks, the entire shipment was sold out.

Today, the China-Laos Railway connects goods to 12 countries, including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Its freight portfolio has expanded from initial agricultural products like rubber, fertilizers, mangosteens, and durians to over 2,900 types, including electronics, photovoltaics, communications equipment, and automobiles.

Trans-editing by Wang Yunya

Proofreading by Zhang Ruogu, Wang Huan and Wang Shixue

Source: Yunnan Daily and Xishuangbanna Updates