STORY: China-Laos Railway handles over 180,000 cross-border passenger trips
SHOOTING TIME: April 12, 2024
DATELINE: April 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:24
LOCATION: KUNMING, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the China-Laos Railway
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG QIANG, Stationmaster of Mohan border inspection station
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZOU WENNIAN, Chinese businessman in Laos
3. various of passengers

STORYLINE:

As of Saturday, the China-Laos Railway has handled over 180,000 cross-border passenger trips since its international passenger service opened a year ago.

According to the Mohan checkpoint on China's border with Laos in southwest China's Yunnan, 738 international passenger trains have been operated during the period, facilitating the smooth entry and exit of 183,000 passengers from 87 countries and regions.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG QIANG, Stationmaster of Mohan border inspection station 
"We've installed smart translation equipment that can translate more than 70 languages, making communication easier between border police and foreign passengers. Through streamlined processes, the customs clearance time for passengers was reduced by 39 minutes."

The most frequent foreign passengers are from Laos, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, mainly traveling for tourism, visiting family and friends, and business purposes.

As a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the 1,035-km China-Laos Railway connects Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, with the Laotian capital Vientiane.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZOU WENNIAN, Chinese businessman in Laos
"Before the opening of the China-Laos Railway, it took a very long time to travel between Kunming and Vientiane by highway. So I only went back to Kunming once every two or three months. Now with the China-Laos Railway, I come back once or twice every week as it's a same-day trip. It is so much easier for my business."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China.
(XHTV)