A cross-border cold-chain freight train carrying 400 tons of fresh vegetables left southwest China's Yunnan Province for Laos on Friday afternoon, marking the start of regular operations for cold-chain train service along the China-Laos rail route.
The train departs from Yuxi City in Yunnan, travels to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and then the goods are transferred by road to Bangkok, Thailand.
Equipped with advanced refrigerated containers, the cold-chain freight train ensures that vegetables stay fresh and high-quality throughout the journey. With this service now running regularly on the China-Laos Railway, Yunnan's specialty products and fresh produce have a reliable and efficient new route for exporting to more overseas destinations. "It's expected that over 50,000 tons of high-quality fruits and vegetables will be transported annually via this efficient rail route to countries in the Indo-China Peninsula," said Zhang Guilan, deputy director of Yuxi Municipal Bureau. of Commerce.
"This fast and efficient logistics channel not only meets customers' demands for keeping refrigerated goods at the right temperature and delivering them on time, but also demonstrates the China-Laos Railway's contribution to China's international trade and high-level economic openness," said Xu Jiefeng, department director of the Kunming logistic center, China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co Ltd.
Since the China-Laos Railway started operating in December 2021, it has handled over 10 million tons of import and export cargo as of Aug 22, 2024, according to the railway's operator.
China-Laos cold-chain freight train service in regular operation
China-Laos cold-chain freight train service in regular operation
China on Wednesday announced interim measures for the implementation of a flexible retirement system, in a move to enforce the previously adopted policy of incrementally raising the statutory retirement age.
The measures stipulated the procedures for applying for flexible retirement and the requirements for receiving basic pensions, among other details.
Under the new policy, individuals will be allowed to retire up to three years earlier than the new statutory retirement age once they have met the minimum pension contribution requirements. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.
Individuals will be able to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with their employers, though this delay must not exceed three years.
Experts say the new retirement system offers flexible options for workers with different situations.
"The flexible retirement policy takes into full consideration the needs of different groups, allowing workers to flexibly choose their own retirement time and to better balance life and work. The lower-aged elderly who have willingness, capabilities, and conditions, could continue to engage in social production and service roles to realize their personal value," said Li Chang'an, researcher with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics.
Chinese lawmakers voted in last September to adopt a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country, marking the first adjustment in the arrangement since the 1950s.
According to the decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the statutory retirement age for men will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while that for women cadres and women blue-collar workers will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55, respectively.
Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually.
China announces interim measures for introducing flexible retirement system
