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(KPL/Xinhua) The China–Laos Railway has transported more than 18 million tonnes of cross-border freight since it began operations in December 2021, according to China Railway Kunming Group Co..
Freight traffic on the railway has continued to grow steadily. In 2025, cross-border cargo volume reached 5.46 million tonnes, representing a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The positive trend has continued in 2026, with average daily cross-border shipments reaching around 15,000 tonnes.
Railway authorities said the variety of goods transported has expanded significantly. In the early stage of operations, the railway carried just over 10 types of cargo, mainly fertilizers and general merchandise. Today, it handles more than 3,800 types of goods, including electronics, photovoltaic products and cold-chain fruits.
The railway’s cross-border freight network now connects 31 provincial-level regions in China and extends to 19 partner countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, including Thailand and Vietnam.
Stretching 1,035 kilometres from Kunming in southwest China’s Yunnan Province to Vientiane in the Lao PDR, the China–Laos Railway officially began operations on Dec. 3, 2021. International passenger train services between Kunming and Vientiane were later launched on April 13, 2023 to meet increasing travel demand.
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