KUNMING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The China-Laos Railway has seen robust growth in both passenger and freight transport since its launch, providing strong support for regional connectivity and economic and social development along its route, according to China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd.

As of Feb. 2, the China-Laos Railway had operated a total of 90,000 passenger train trips, carrying 66.12 million passengers. Of these, 53.95 million travelled on the Chinese domestic section, while 12.17 million were transported on the overseas section.

This railway has significantly facilitated cross-border tourism, education and business exchanges between China and Laos, the company said.

The China-Laos Railway corridor has entered its peak winter-spring tourism season. To meet rising demand, the railway operator has increased transport capacity, operating more than 70 passenger trains daily and handling over 60,000 passenger trips each day. This includes four cross-border passenger trains, which facilitate daily cross-border travel for more than 1,000 passengers.

Meanwhile, the railway has cumulatively transported 76.8 million tonnes of cargo, including 17 million tonnes of cross-border freight. Its services now cover 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, and extend to 19 countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The variety of goods transported across borders has expanded to over 3,800 categories.

Stretching 1,035 km from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital of Vientiane, the China-Laos Railway commenced operations on Dec. 3, 2021. To meet growing cross-border travel demand, international passenger train services between Kunming and Vientiane were introduced on April 13, 2023.