What did the first anniversary of the opening of China-Laos Railway bring to Southeast Asia?

A very popular journalist, Manda Huang Jiaqi.

China-Laos Railway, which connects China, Yunnan, Kunming and Vientiane, Laos, was officially opened on February 3rd, 20021,and it has been a whole year. According to Laos Vientiane Times, China-Laos Railway has become one of the main driving forces of Laos' economic growth. On February 3, 65438, Laos held an activity to commemorate the first anniversary of the completion of the Laos-China Railway.

Trains use white, red and blue stripes. Image source: Xinhua News Agency

Revitalize Laos' export trade and tourism

China-Laos Railway is the first international railway adopting China standard, which is jointly built and operated by China and Laos, and is directly connected with China railway network.

Passengers can experience the rugged mountain scenery of Laos with a total length of1035km. When the train speed is160km/h, they can pass through 75 tunnels and 167 bridges and viaducts.

In the first year of operation, the railway triggered a surge in Laos' exports, revitalized tourism and met the growing travel demand between Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and the northern provinces.

According to the People's Daily, by February 2, 2022, China-Laos Railway had transported a total of110.2 million tons of goods, sent 8.5 million passengers and operated 3,000 cross-border freight trains, with a cross-border cargo value exceeding 654.38+0.3 billion yuan.

Data Map Image Source: Xinhua News Agency

Du Zhigang, the operation director of Laozhong Railway Co., Ltd. said: "Tickets are very popular. Laos tourists and many neighboring countries, including Thai tourists, came to take the EMU in China-Laos Railway to punch in. "

Xinhua News Agency quoted Du Zhigang as saying that since the railway was put into operation, the freight volume has increased steadily, most of which is transit goods.

The goods transported by this railway from Laos to China include rubber, barley, rice, cassava, coffee, beer, minerals and potash fertilizer, while ordinary consumer goods, mechanical parts, auto parts and electronic products are transported from China to Laos.

For Laos, this railway is revolutionary and one of the most advanced railway infrastructures in Southeast Asia so far. Daowone, vice president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Vientiane Times that the railway opened at the end of last year not only greatly promoted Laos' tourism, but also improved logistics and transportation, which helped promote Laos' trade with neighboring countries.

As far as China is concerned, the opening of China-Laos Railway has further made Yunnan the frontier of China's opening to the outside world and better empowered Yunnan to open to the outside world at a high level.

Countries around Fuze, China-Laos Railway

The impact of the opening of China-Laos Railway is not limited to Laos and China. On September 2nd this year, Bangkok Post published the article "China-Laos Railway Brings Gospel to Thais", introducing the benefits that Thailand has gained from this railway.

It is reported that from May 9 to July 3 1 day, about 250,000 Thai tourists visited Laos. Immigration officials at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in nong khai said that the same number of Lao tourists also crossed the border to travel to Thailand.

According to relevant officials, cross-border tourism generated about 800 million baht during this period.

In addition, China-Laos Railway is also connected with Tanaling Land Port and Vientiane Logistics Park in Laos. The development of railway transportation has brought new development opportunities for land ports and logistics parks. Vientiane Logistics Park is the first comprehensive logistics park located in the suburb of Vientiane, Laos. It opened the next day after the opening of the railway.

The $727 million logistics park and dry port project is divided into four phases, which are expected to be completed in 2027, and the first phase is nearing completion.

"The project is expected to promote trade and investment and create more than 20,000 jobs." TeeCheeSeng, vice president of Vientiane Logistics Park Company, told Bangkok Post that "logistics parks and dry ports have promoted cross-border logistics and cargo transportation from ASEAN to Vientiane via Thailand."

Vice President of Vientiane Logistics Park Company talks about China-Laos Railway's influence. Source: Bangkok Post

Relying on Tanaling Land Port and Vientiane Logistics Park, the cross-border trade volume between Thailand and Laos is expected to exceed 654.38+020 billion baht in the first half of this year. It is expected to increase to 200 billion baht in the second half of this year, because more border crossings are expected to be reopened for cross-border trade.

Tee said that ASEAN countries will strengthen their ties with China and other regions through a cost-effective, convenient, fast and safe railway network in the future, thus promoting trade and growth among all parties.

Railways are no longer a luxury in Southeast Asia.

Under the "Belt and Road Initiative" of China, railways are no longer a luxury in Southeast Asian countries.

China-Laos Railway is an important part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. According to the plan, the railway system will connect Kunming in southern China with Singapore through Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.

This change has attracted the attention of the international community.

According to the report "Connecting from Inland to Land: Unlocking the Potential of Railway Connection between Laos and China" released by the World Bank in 2020, this railway is an integral part of the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor among the six international economic corridors under the "Belt and Road Initiative" proposed by China. Under the initiative of "One Belt, One Road" in China, many Southeast Asian countries have enjoyed or will soon enjoy the economic changes and convenience brought by more and more railways.

After experiencing the China-Laos high-speed railway, CNN reporter reported on June 5438+065438+ 10/0 that "this train focuses on function rather than form." The reporter also said, "The train seats are very comfortable, there is enough legroom, and the overhead luggage rack also has enough space to accommodate the heaviest suitcase or backpack. The power interface under the seat can provide power for mobile phones and laptops."

China-Laos Railway Train Interior Image Source: Xinhua News Agency

CNN reported, "There is no doubt that this train is a boon to many Laos, who have never had the opportunity to move freely or quickly in their own country like this."

Besides China-Laos Railway, China-Vietnam Railway, China-Myanmar Railway, China-Thailand Railway and other railway lines connecting China and Southeast Asian countries have been put into use or are under construction.

According to the report of China News Network in May 10, since 2022, there have been 7,867 international intermodal trains of China-Vietnam Railway, which have transported import and export goods 170438+00000 tons. The total import and export trade was 482 million yuan, up 29.96% year-on-year. Edible nuts and other agricultural and sideline products were exported from Hekou Railway Port for the first time.

The Sino-Thai Railway is under construction. Image source: Xinhua News Agency

CCTV News reported on May 23 this year that the first international railway train from Chongqing to Lincang to Myanmar, a new channel between China and Myanmar, was sent from Chongqing, marking the official opening of this line.

According to Xinhua News Agency165438+1October 17, Ma, the general manager of China Railway Design Group Co., Ltd., who is in charge of the supervision of the first phase of the Sino-Thai railway, told the reporter that the civil engineering construction of the first phase of the Sino-Thai railway is progressing steadily.

As the key project of "Belt and Road Initiative" between China and Thailand, the Sino-Thai Railway is also the first high-speed railway with standard gauge in Thailand, designed and built according to China standards. The first phase of the project connects Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, and the second phase will extend to Langkai, a border trade town in northeast Thailand, just across the river from Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and connect with China-Laos Railway.