Cross-border train services between China and Laos have been launched, with the first passenger train departing from Kunming and heading for the Lao capital of Vientiane. The China-Laos Railway, a Belt and Road infrastructure project, began operations in December 2021, and passenger train services have been offered along sections between Kunming and the Chinese border town of Mohan, as well as the section connecting Vientiane and Boten. The newly launched services have been hailed as meeting the needs of the two peoples and cementing their friendship. The railway has emerged as a crucial factor in boosting Laos’ tourism industry, with Chinese travelers predicted to reach 368,000 in 2023.