The China-Laos Railway, which launched its international passenger service on April 13, 2023, has handled over 222,000 cross-border passenger trips as of Friday, said the Mohan border checkpoint in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Over 1,000 international passenger trains running on the China-Laos Railway have served travelers from 96 countries and regions since the service was launched, according to Mohan's entry-exit border inspection station on the China-Laos border and local railway authorities.
Since the launch of its cross-border passenger service, the railway has become the preferred mode of transport for a growing number of international travelers due to its affordability, convenience and comfort.
The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operation in December 2021. The 1,035-km railway connects Kunming in China with Vientiane in Laos.
To streamline customs clearance procedures, the local border inspection department has equipped its personnel with intelligent language translation devices, which can translate more than 70 languages from around the world in real time, greatly facilitating the communication between its staff and foreign passengers.
Currently, the customs clearance time of China-Laos railway international passenger trains has been shortened from the initial three hours to two hours.
The railway project is actually a section of the Kunming-Singapore Railway Project, which connects Kunming with Singapore, passing through Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia.
China-Laos Railway records over 222,000 cross-border passengers
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Peru's capital Lima on Thursday to attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay a state visit to the Latin American country at the invitation of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.
When Xi arrived at the Callao Air Base in Lima, he was warmly welcomed by Peruvian Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen and other senior officials. A local student expressed warm welcome to Xi in Chinese. Guards of honor lined up on both sides of the red carpet to salute.
In a written statement upon his arrival, Xi said it gives him great pleasure to once again pay a state visit to the Republic of Peru and attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting at the invitation of President Dina Boluarte, adding that he feels very close to Peru as he again stepped onto this beautiful and rich land with a long history.
On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended his sincere greetings and best wishes to the government and people of Peru.
China and Peru enjoy a long history of friendship, which is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, Xi said, noting that as early as more than 400 years ago, the people of the two countries started friendly exchanges through the Maritime Silk Road and "the Manila Galleons," or "La Nao de China."
China and Peru established diplomatic ties 53 years ago, making Peru one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, he said.
In recent years, with the joint efforts of various sectors of the two countries, the development of China-Peru relations has continued deepening, and political mutual trust has been increasingly consolidated, Xi said, adding that the two countries have understood and supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.
China has been Peru's largest trading partner and largest export market for 10 years in a row, and steady progress has been made on major cooperation projects in fields such as mining and infrastructure, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.
Xi said that he will hold talks with President Boluarte to have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Peru relations, practical cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of common concern, and will also attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chancay Port with President Boluarte.
Xi added that he looks forward to attending the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and working with all parties to ensure its success and make new contributions to building an open Asia-Pacific economy, promoting world economic growth, and jointly building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Song Yang, Chinese ambassador to Peru, were also at the airport to greet President Xi.
On Xi's way from the airport to the hotel, representatives of overseas Chinese, Chinese institutions, Chinese students, as well as local people lined the road to greet him. They waved national flags of China and Peru, performed dragon and lion dances to warmly welcome the Chinese president for his visit.
En route from Beijing to Lima, Xi's plane made a technical stopover on Spain's Gran Canaria Island where he was welcomed and seen off by senior Spanish officials at the airport.
The 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held on Friday and Saturday in Lima.
Xi arrives in Peru for APEC meeting, state visit
