A fixed-schedule China-Laos freight train, fully loaded with 66 containers of goods, departs from Huaihua for Vientiane, Laos. (Photo/Ran Yunfang)

A fixed-schedule China-Laos freight train, fully loaded with 66 containers of goods, departed from Huaihua West Freight Yard recently, heading toward Vientiane, Laos.

These goods, weighing 780 tonnes and valued at around three million CNY, carry "Made in China" New Year greetings to ASEAN countries.

The train carried mostly high-value, concentrated goods, with photovoltaic module accessories from Jiangsu Province taking up the majority of the cargo space. These products will be used for rapidly growing solar projects in Laos and neighboring countries. Besides, the train carried ammonium sulfate for agricultural production and laminate flooring for architectural ornament, among others, targeting the diversified demands of the ASEAN market.

Since the launch of the China-Laos Railway, Huaihua has seized the opportunity to build itself into a "gateway" connecting Hunan, and even the central region of China, with ASEAN. Relying on continuously optimized operation and improved service efficiency, the Huaihua West-Vientiane South freight service has achieved regular and high-frequency operation, attracting cargoes from central, eastern, and southern regions of China to gather in Huaihua.

In 2025, the New Land-Sea Corridor Operation (Hunan) Co., Ltd. operated over 1,200 freight train trips, shipping Hunan's construction machinery, Huaihua rice noodles, and other specialty products to Southeast Asia, while bringing back fruits, tapioca starch, and other high-quality agro-products from ASEAN countries. 

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunantoday