CrewmembersofapassengertrainboundfortheLaocapitalVientianepreparefordeparturefromKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.(Xinhua/XingGuangli)

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KUNMING/VIENTIANE,April13(Xinhua)--TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.

ThefirstpassengertraindepartedfromKunming,capitalofsouthwestChina"sYunnanProvince,at8:08a.m.(BeijingTime),headingfortheLaocapitalVientiane.

Thetrain,whichispackedtocapacityforthistrip,willtravelataspeedofupto160kmperhourthroughmountainsandvalleys.Thereareeightstationsalongtheroutethatstretchesover1,000km,andthejourneytakes10andahalfhours,includingthetimespentongoingthroughcustoms.

LiuJin,32,isonthisfirsttrainalongwithhismother,andtheyaretravelingtoLuangPrabanginLaos.HehasmadeeightprevioustripstoLaos,usuallybybus,whenhisjourneylastedmorethan27hoursonwindingmountainroads.

"Thelaunchofcross-bordertrainserviceshasmadetravelingtoLaosmucheasier,"saidLiu."Itcutsthetraveltimeandoffersgreatcomfort."

Shortlyafter9a.m.(BeijingTime),atraindepartedfromVientianeforKunming.StartingThursday,onepassengertrainwilloperatedailyfromKunmingtoVientianeandanotheronetheotherwayaround.

TheChina-LaosRailway,alandmarkprojectshowcasinghigh-qualityBeltandRoadcooperation,beganoperationinDecember2021.TherailwayalsoservesasadockingprojectwithLaos"strategytoconvertitselffromalandlockedcountrytoaland-linkedhub.

Afteritslaunchin2021,passengertrainserviceshavebeenofferedalongthesectionbetweenKunmingandtheChinesebordertownofMohan,aswellasthesectionconnectingVientianeandBoten,thebordertownontheLaoside.

AsofSunday,13.93milliondomesticpassengertripshadbeenhandledand18.38milliontonnesofcargotransportedontheChina-LaosRailway.■

PerformersdanceduringalaunchceremonyforthefirstpassengertrainfromKunmingtotheLaocapitalVientianeatKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.(Xinhua/WangChangshan)

ApassengertrainboundfortheLaocapitalVientianeawaitsdeparturefromKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.(Xinhua/XingGuangli)

ApassengertrainboundfortheLaocapitalVientianeawaitsdeparturefromKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.(Xinhua/XingGuangli)

ThisphototakenonApril13,2023showsticketgatesatKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince.(Xinhua/XingGuangli)

LaoandChinesedriversofacross-borderpassengertrainboundforKunminginsouthwestChina"sYunnanProvincepreparefordeparturefromVientiane,LaosonApril13,2023.(PhotobyYangYongquan/Xinhua)

Thefirstcross-borderpassengertrainboundforKunminginsouthwestChina"sYunnnanProvinceawaitsdeparturefromVientiane,LaosonApril13,2023.(PhotobyYangYongquan/Xinhua)

Passengerspreparetoboardthefirstcross-borderpassengertrainboundfortheLaocapitalVientianeatKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/HuChao)

Apassengershowsherticketaboardthefirstcross-borderpassengertrainfromKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvincetotheLaocapitalVientianeonApril13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/HuChao)

Atrainattendantchecksapassenger"sticketandtraveldocumentaboardthefirstcross-borderpassengertrainfromKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvincetotheLaocapitalVientianeonApril13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/HuChao)

Passengerstakingthefirstcross-borderpassengertrainboundfortheLaocapitalVientianeposeforaphotobeforedepartingfromKunmingSouthRailwayStationinKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/HuChao)

Passengersposeforaphotoaboardthefirstcross-borderpassengertrainfromKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvincetotheLaocapitalVientianeonApril13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/HuChao)

Anartperformanceisstagedaboardthefirstcross-borderpassengertrainfromKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvincetotheLaocapitalVientianeonApril13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/HuChao)

Thefirstcross-borderpassengertrainfromKunming,southwestChina"sYunnanProvincetotheLaocapitalVientianepassesbyteaplantationsinPu"er,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/JiangWenyao)

AFuxingbullettrainpassesbyteaplantationsinPu"er,southwestChina"sYunnanProvince,April13,2023.TheChina-LaosRailwaystartedcross-borderpassengerservicesonThursday,amovethatisexpectedtoboostregionalconnectivity.(Xinhua/ShanYuqi)