CCTV News: Since the launch and operation of the China-Laos Railway, passenger and freight transportation data have both exceeded 50 million, injecting strong impetus into promoting personnel exchanges, cargo transportation and cultural exchanges between China and Laos.
As of April 12, since the launch of the China-Laos Railway, it has launched a total of 74,000 passenger trains, sending more than 50.8 million passengers; it has launched 53,000 freight trains, and transporting a total of more than 57.2 million tons of cargo. The two breakthroughs of 50 million have brought significant changes to passenger and freight transportation, economic and trade and cultural exchanges.
Cross-border travel is more convenient. In the two years since the launch of the China-Laos Railway cross-border passenger train, it has sent a total of 487,000 cross-border passengers, covering 112 countries and regions around the world. The operating time from Kunming South to Vientiane was compressed from 10 and a half hours to 9 and a half hours, and the port customs clearance time was shortened from 90 minutes to 52 minutes, with an efficiency increase of 42%.
Innovation of cultural and tourism integration business formats. Since the beginning of this year, the number of tourists from ASEAN countries to Xishuangbanna has increased by more than 2.5 times year-on-year, among which the number of tourists from Thailand and Malaysia ranks among the top, the occupancy rate of hotels along the route is stable at more than 85%, and the consumption of scenic spots along the route has increased by more than 35%, forming a unique cross-border tourism economic circle.
Cross-border freight increased significantly. Cross-border cargo trains increased from 2 trains/day to 18 trains/day in the early stage of opening, and the types of goods transported increased from more than 500 to more than 3,000. The cross-border cargo volume reached 13.29 million tons, covering 19 countries and regions. The freight cost from Kunming to Laos to Thailand was reduced by 30%-50%, and the transportation time from Laos to Europe was shortened to 15 days, building an international logistics channel with seamless connection of "Southeast Asia-China-Europe".
