Passengers bound for Laos are aboard a China-Laos Railway train at Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A freight train loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables set off from the Wangjiaying West Station in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, bound for Laos on Thursday. The train run marks a new milestone for the China-Laos Railway, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, which has transported over 50 million tons of cargo since its launch in 2021, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) said.

From the start in 2021, the number of daily cross-border freight trains has grown from two initially to 18 now, with each train load on average increasing from 2,000 tons to 2,500 tons. The railway has transported a total of 11.58 million tons of cross-border cargo to date.

Leveraging the railway's connectivity, China Railway has introduced innovative services like the "Lancang-Mekong Express," having operated over 1,670 trains so far, according to media reports. International freight routes such as the "Beijing-Yunnan-Lancang-Mekong" and the "Shanghai-Kunming-Lancang-Mekong" have effectively accelerated China-ASEAN transport capabilities.

Innovative freight models, combining the China-Laos Railway with China-Europe freight train services, have reduced delivery time to Europe from Laos and Thailand to 15 days. According to a statement from China Railway, the network spans 31 Chinese provinces and integrates 19 countries and regions, facilitating the transport of over 3,000 types of goods.

The China-Laos Railway transported 19.6 million tons of goods in 2024, with the daily average hitting 50,000 tons. Cross-border freight accounted for 4.78 million tons, with imports to China far exceeding exports.

Authorities have enhanced the railway's efficiency with measures like pre-declaration for imports and fast clearance, attracting 71 businesses and securing 700 million yuan ($95.9 million) in credit through multimodal transport and financing reforms.

Mohan railway port in Yunnan Province has deployed advanced technologies like 5G, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and AI, to develop a smarter network of freight train runs.

"By addressing Laos' unique geographical challenges and boosting economic activity, employment and trade along its route, the railway represents a transformative new connectivity model," Wan Zhe, an economist and professor at the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"Its potential extension into the China-Laos-Thailand network could amplify regional integration under RCEP, enhancing trade flows and benefiting local communities," Wan added. 

On Wednesday, the first day of 2025, over 680 domestic and international passengers crossed the China-Laos border through the Mohan Railway Port on the China-Laos Railway, recording a 33 percent increase year-on-year, China News Service reported citing official data.

China has boosted international freight transportation capacity with initiatives such as the Chongqing-Vientiane cross-border rail and road freight service, focused on auto and motorcycle logistics, which helps deepen trade and economic links with ASEAN nations. Also, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor connects a broad network of ports, underscoring China's commitment to advancing global trade integration, analysts said.