Summary
(1) China Railway Corporation announced that the China-Laos Railway has reached a significant milestone, marking its fourth year of operation. As of December 2nd, the railway has transported over 62.5 million passengers and over 72.5 million tons of goods, creating a golden channel effect that has boosted regional economic and social development. Since its opening, the China-Laos Railway has seen continuous growth in passenger and cargo volumes, with significant improvements in service quality and a radiating effect that has had a profound impact on the region.
(2) Passenger traffic on the railway has seen a significant increase, with the number of passengers transported in a single month rising from 600,000 to a peak of 2.2 million. In the domestic segment, the number of passenger trains operating daily has increased from 8 to a peak of 86, with a total of 51.34 million passengers transported. In the Laotian segment, the number of passenger trains operating daily has increased from 4 to a peak of 18, with a total of 11.24 million passengers transported.
(3) Cargo traffic on the railway has also seen significant growth, with the number of cross-border freight trains operating daily increasing from 2 to a peak of 23. The tonnage of cargo carried by these trains has also increased, from 2,000 tons to 2,800 tons. A total of over 16 million tons of cross-border cargo has been transported, covering 31 provinces in China and 19 countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. The variety of cross-border commodities transported has also increased, with over 3,800 types of goods now being carried.
(4) The China-Laos Railway has also had a positive impact on regional trade, with the cost of transporting goods from Kunming to Thailand via Laos decreasing by 30-50%, and the cost of transporting goods within Laos decreasing by 20-40%. This has provided a significant boost to regional economic development.
(5) In addition to its economic benefits, the China-Laos Railway has also had a positive impact on regional tourism. The railway has been used to develop tourism routes between Kunming and Vientiane, with over 640,000 tourists from 120 countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, the US, and the UK, using the railway to travel between the two cities. This has had a significant impact on local tourism industries, including hotels, restaurants, and scenic spots, and has provided a new source of revenue for regional economies.