China-Laos Railway handles more than 1 million cross-border passenger trips

(ECNS) — International passenger trains on the China-Laos Railway have carried more than 1 million cross-border passenger trips since service began in April 2023, the Mohan border inspection station said Wednesday. The trains have run more than 4,000 times, and annual cross-border passenger numbers have grown by more than 30% on average. 

The service connects Kunming, in China’s Yunnan province, with Vientiane, the capital of Laos, in one day. Passengers from more than 120 countries and regions have used the service, including more than 151,000 foreign nationals, mainly from Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.

During China’s National Day holiday this year, visa-free entries accounted for more than 58% of foreign arrivals at the Mohan railway port.

To improve clearance efficiency, the border inspection station has introduced more than 10 facilitation measures and smart devices, cutting passenger inspection time by more than 30%.

(By Helen Mo & intern Liu Shuangjing)