Vientiane, Laos – The Laos-China Railway marked its third anniversary on December 3rd, 2024, with a remarkable track record of passenger and freight transportation. Since its launch in 2021, the railway has become a vital link between the two countries, facilitating economic growth and cultural exchange.

Passenger Transport

Over the past three years, the railway has transported a total of 4.3 billion passengers, including over 740,000 domestic passengers within Laos. The most popular route for Laotian passengers has been between Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang, accounting for 85% of domestic travel. Daily passenger numbers have surged from 20,000 to approximately 100,000, highlighting the increasing popularity of rail travel.

Freight Transport

The railway has also proven to be a game-changer for freight transportation. In its inaugural year, the railway handled 10 categories of goods. Today, the range has expanded to over 3,000 items, including Laotian exports such as BeerLao, durian, cassava flour, and mangoes, destined for the Chinese market.

In the first ten months of 2024, the railway transported 3 million passengers. On the freight side, it moved 3.58 million tons of goods in the first eight months of 2024, a 22.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Economic Impact

According to Kunming Customs, the railway's freight operations have also experienced substantial growth. By 2024, the railway had transported over 10.6 million tons of import and export goods, valued at more than 44 billion yuan (approximately USD 6.05 billion). This figure is a significant leap from January 2022, when a single international freight train transported 59,500 tons of goods worth 1.068 billion yuan (approximately USD 147 million).

The Laos-China Railway continues to solidify its position as a crucial infrastructure project, driving economic development and strengthening bilateral ties between Laos and China.