China-Laos Railway marks new milestone on Thursday, transporting 50 million tons of goods since its launch in 2021

(Global Times) -- A freight train loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables set off from the Wangjiaying West Station in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, bound for Laos on Thursday. The train run marks a new milestone for the China-Laos Railway, which has transported over 50 million tons of cargo since its launch in 2021, China State Railway Group Co (China Railway) said.

Courtersy of China State Railway Group Co.

From the start in 2021, the number of daily cross-border freight trains has grown from two to 18 now, with each train loads on average increasing from 2,000 tons to 2,500 tons. The railway has transported a total of 11.58 million tons of cross-border cargo to date.
Leveraging the railway’s connectivity, China Railway have introduced innovative services like the “Lancang-Mekong Express,” having operated over 1,670 trains so far, according to media reports. International freight routes such as the “Beijing-Yunnan-Lancang-Mekong” and the “Shanghai-Kunming-Lancang-Mekong” have effectively accelerated China-ASEAN transport capabilities.
Innovative freight models, combining the China-Laos Railway with China-Europe freight train services, have reduced delivery time to Europe from Laos and Thailand to as short as 15 days. According to a statement from China Railway, the network spans 31 Chinese provinces and integrates 19 countries, facilitating the transport of over 3,000 types of goods.
The China-Laos Railway transported 19.6 million tons of goods in 2024, with the daily average hitting 50,000 tons. Cross-border freight accounted for 4.78 million tons, with imports to China far exceeding exports.
Authorities have enhanced the railway’s efficiency with measures like pre-declaration for imports and fast clearance, attracting 71 businesses and securing 700 million yuan (US$96.3 million) in credit through multimodal transport and financing reforms.
The Mohan railway port in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province has deployed advanced technologies like 5G, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and AI, to develop a smarter network of freight train runs.
And, collaboration among railway, customs, and border check agencies in China and Laos has significantly improved the management at the Mohan railway port, reducing clearance time for goods import and export by 60 percent and 90 percent, respectively.
China has boosted international freight transportation capacity with initiatives such as the Chongqing-Vientiane cross-border rail and road freight service, focused on auto and motorcycle logistics, which helps deepen trade and economic links with the ASEAN nations. Also, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor connects a broad network of ports, underscoring China’s commitment to advancing global trade integration, analysts said.

 (Latest Update January 3, 2025)