China-FM Briefing/China-Laos Railway

Shotlist

Beijing, China – July 4, 2022 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of press conference in progress
2. Reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Lijian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The inauguration of the freight transit yard of the China-Laos Railway’s Vientiane South Station means faster, easier traffic on China-Laos-Thailand land-sea intermodal logistics transport channel. It means that to the north, the China-Laos Railway can now reach Chinese city hubs and connect with the China-Europe Railway Express network; and to the south, it can reach Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.”
4. Various of press
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Lijian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The China-Laos Railway is becoming an accelerator of regional connectivity and a new engine driving economic cooperation. It has been welcomed by countries across the region. It stands as a vivid example of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and ASEAN countries and a strong testament to their joint efforts to implement the Global Development Initiative.”
6. Press
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Lijian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“Under the impact of COVID-19 and other factors, the world economy is struggling to recover and the challenges posed by lack of investment and funding have become more pronounced for developing countries. We welcome the participation of more regional countries in the Belt and Road cooperation to share in the opportunities and dividends of connectivity.”
8. Press
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Lijian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The seventh Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting has just been successfully held today in Myanmar. China is ready to work with the Laos and other member states of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism to implement the outcomes of the meeting, continue to pursue its founding purpose for win-win cooperation and common development, and build an area of demonstration for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, in order to bring more benefits to the people in regional countries and provide a stronger boost to regional stability and prosperity.”
10. Press conference in progress
11. Press

Storyline

The inauguration of the freight transit yard at the Vientiane south station along the China-Laos Railway will boost connectivity between China, Laos and Thailand, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday.

Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the ministry, made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing three days after the freight transit yard of the China-Laos Railway’s Vientiane South Station was completed and put into operation.

“The inauguration of the freight transit yard of the China-Laos Railway’s Vientiane South Station means faster, easier traffic on China-Laos-Thailand land-sea intermodal logistics transport channel. It means that to the north, the China-Laos Railway can now reach Chinese city hubs and connect with the China-Europe Railway Express network; and to the south, it can reach Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore,” said Zhao.

As of June 30, the China-Laos Railway, which started operation at the end of last year, has transported four million passengers and nearly five million tonnes of goods, including 800,000 tonnes of cross-border goods, according to Zhao, adding that more than 20 Chinese provinces and cities have opened cross-border freight train services using the railway, which carry more than 100 varieties of goods including fruits, solar and electronic products and reach destinations in over ten regional countries including the Laos and Thailand.

“The China-Laos Railway is becoming an accelerator of regional connectivity and a new engine driving economic cooperation. It has been welcomed by countries across the region. It stands as a vivid example of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and ASEAN countries and a strong testament to their joint efforts to implement the Global Development Initiative,” said Zhao.

Zhao noted that over the past nine years since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 149 countries, the Laos included, and 32 international organizations. China has launched over 3,000 cooperation projects with investments totaling almost one trillion dollars, Zhao said.

“Under the impact of COVID-19 and other factors, the world economy is struggling to recover and the challenges posed by lack of investment and funding have become more pronounced for developing countries. We welcome the participation of more regional countries in the Belt and Road cooperation to share in the opportunities and dividends of connectivity,” said Zhao.

“The seventh Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting has just been successfully held today in Myanmar. China is ready to work with the Laos and other member states of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism to implement the outcomes of the meeting, continue to pursue its founding purpose for win-win cooperation and common development, and build an area of demonstration for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, in order to bring more benefits to the people in regional countries and provide a stronger boost to regional stability and prosperity,” he said.