Freight via China-Laos trains exceeds 1 billion yuan

From its opening to January 17, the China-Laos Railway operated 153 international freight trains, transporting 59,500 tons cargos worth 1.068 billion yuan, said Kunming Customs.

More than 100 varieties of goods were transported by the railway. The imported ones were natural rubber, iron ore, charcoal, etc., while the exports included vegetables, necessities, machines, and electric products.

The China-Laos railway network now indirectly involves 15 cities in 9 provinces in China, as well as 10 plus Belt and Road countries, according to the Kunming customs.

New trains were added from Xishuangbanna to Xichang in south Sichuan province. During the Chinese spring festival, the Kunming rail group will operate 57 trains on the Chinese section of the railway, an increase of 18 trains.

Thailand is planning to build a second bridge across the Mekong River to connect its northeastern Nong Khai with the China-Laos railway.

“In the future, the China-Laos-Thailand railway will reduce freight costs by 30% to 50%,” said Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai deputy prime minister.

According to Bangkok Post, with the official opening of the China-Laos railway, the transportation time for China-Thailand freight has been shortened by one day, and the cost decreased by 25%.

Source: Xinhua, China News, Reference News; Trans-editing by Yang Xuan