Over 16 million tons of import and export goods and 630000 people entering and leaving the country on the fourth anniversary of the opening of the China Laos Railway (Figure)

The picture shows customs officers using CT machines to monitor the luggage and belongings of inbound and outbound passengers at the Mohan Railway Port. Photo by Zhou Wei

According to Kunming Customs data, from December 3, 2021 to December 2, 2025, the import and export of goods via the China Laos Railway has exceeded 16 million tons, with a value of more than 70 billion yuan. The categories of import and export goods have expanded to more than 3800, serving more than 6000 enterprises nationwide, and radiating 19 countries and regions such as Laos and Thailand. The China Laos Railway has become a "golden line" connecting China and ASEAN countries.

Since the opening of the China Laos Railway four years ago, as an important hub of the China Laos Railway, Mohan Railway Port has supported the leap of cross-border trade with "smart" changes. Kunming Customs resolutely fulfills its duty and mission of guarding the country's borders and promoting development. Focusing on its main responsibilities and business, and coordinating efforts from all parties, it has launched 13 measures to facilitate customs clearance, implemented regulatory mode reforms such as "railway express" and "release before inspection", and combined with the application of intelligent regulatory inspection equipment such as H986 and nuclear radiation detection doors, achieved the unity of strict supervision and efficient customs clearance. Imported goods can complete customs clearance within 3 hours at the fastest, and the daily number of international freight trains has increased from 2 in the early stages of operation to 20.

"The stable transportation capacity and efficient customs clearance of the China Laos Railway enable our declared imports to reach the domestic market more quickly. Now Thailand's durian, mangosteen and other tropical fruits' customs clearance on the same day and put on shelves the next day 'have become the norm, and the market competitiveness of products has significantly increased." Wang Xiaogang, the head of customs declaration of Xishuangbanna Zhouyi Customs Service Co., Ltd., said. In the first 11 months of this year, 199700 tons of fruits were imported via the China Laos railway, with a value of 4.853 billion yuan, up 35.3% and 27.4% year on year respectively.

The improvement of customs clearance efficiency and the expansion of trade scale have also led to a continuous increase in the participation of various market entities. Among the enterprises that rely on the China Laos Railway to carry out cross-border trade, private enterprises accounted for as much as 87.9%. In four years, the accumulated import and export value of private enterprises exceeded 560 trillion yuan, accounting for 80% of the total import and export value of the China Laos Railway. The China Laos Railway allows more market players to share the dividends of opening up.

At Mohan Station, which is adjacent to the designated supervision site of Mohan Railway Port, smart security gates, CT machines and other equipment operate efficiently. Customs completed the entry supervision of all personnel in just 15 minutes. "This is my first time to travel abroad by railway. I can feel the convenience of 'customs clearance without feeling' whether I leave or enter the country. The whole process is simple and efficient. Next time, I will choose to travel to Laos and Thailand by the China Laos Railway." Ms. Wang, a passenger from Shanghai, has just finished her trip to Laos and is full of praise for the customs clearance experience.

With the advantages of high efficiency, safety and comfort, more and more domestic and foreign passengers start a "two-way journey" through the China Laos Railway. Up to now, the China Laos Railway has operated more than 2700 international passenger trains, carrying more than 630000 entry-exit passengers, which has attracted passengers from 115 countries and regions around the world to travel by international passenger trains.

With the implementation of the "one place, two inspections" intergovernmental agreement of the China Laos Railway, Kunming Customs is further deepening its law enforcement cooperation with Laos Customs, optimizing the customs clearance process and improving the regulatory efficiency. Standing at a new starting point, this "golden line" carrying friendship and development will continue to empower with wisdom and open cohesion, and write a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win on the journey of high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road". (Zhou Wei/Text)