（InKunming Amy）On October 8th, around 9:30 am, the inaugural "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train departed from the Wangjiaying West Container Center Station in Kunming. Loaded with 36 cars of Southeast Asian specialties like fruits, rubber, and Yunnan local products such as sugar and silicon metal, this train was set to arrive in Shanghai after an 82-hour journey.

At the departure ceremony, the train, proudly displaying the emblem of the "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight service, stood poised on the tracks. Upon receiving the signal, the train slowly pulled out of the station, heading east towards Shanghai. Meanwhile, the LED screens in the background showcased the departure scenes of trains from Shanghai's Luchao Port and Vientiane South Station in Laos.

It is known that the return trip of the first "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train (Vientiane South-Kunming Wangjiaying West-Shanghai) departed from Vientiane South in Laos at 3:00 am on October 6th, carrying Southeast Asian specialty goods. After a 26-hour journey, it arrived at Kunming Wangjiaying West Station. On the same day, the "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train (outbound) departed from Shanghai's Luchao Port Container Center Station in the Pilot Free Trade Zone. The train, carrying 26 cars of agricultural machinery and appliances, departed from Luchao Port station. This train will travel from Kunming, Yunnan, and head to Vientiane South Station in Laos, covering a distance of 3,756 kilometers, with an estimated travel time of 4 to 5 days.

Shanghai, a leading engine of China's economy, is the first pilot free trade zone in our country. As a part of the economically prosperous Yangtze River Delta City Cluster, Shanghai boasts developed transportation networks and stands as a region with the most comprehensive industrial system and complete industrial chain in China.

Yunnan has clear location advantages as it builds a center that extends towards South Asia and Southeast Asia. It serves as a dynamic gateway for the golden channel, transforming from the periphery of openness to the forefront.

Cooperating together, complementing strengths. The "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train is the first jointly operated international train launched by Yunnan Province and Shanghai Municipality. It is a significant initiative that showcases the coordinated effort between Shanghai and Yunnan to achieve East-West cooperation and dual circulation at both domestic and international levels. Opening the "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" not only sets a new benchmark and model for Shanghai-Yunnan cooperation, but also promotes deep integration of supply chains and industrial chains, an active role in facilitating a positive interaction between the industrial chain and value chain.

Connecting East and West, reaching out to the world. This cooperative "artery" established by Shanghai and Yunnan will better connect the domestic market in China with the markets in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It will effectively stimulate the vitality along the route, accelerate the integration of industrial chains, supply chains, financial chains, and talent chains, and explore a new path for regional synergistic development.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative. Yunnan, as an important part of the southern Silk Road of the Belt and Road Initiative, has always upheld the spirit of openness, cooperation, and inclusiveness. It has accelerated the construction of a center towards South Asia and Southeast Asia and remained steadfast in promoting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

As a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Laos Railway has been in operation since December 3rd, 2021. So far, 25 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) in China have operated cross-border freight trains on the China-Laos Railway. As of October 3rd this year, more than 26.8 million tons of goods have been transported, with the number of goods categories exceeding 2,700. The transportation of goods covers 12 Belt and Road Initiative participating countries, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. The China-Laos Railway has become an international logistics golden channel that connects inland and overseas, radiates the surrounding areas, facilitates two-way mutual assistance, and ensures safety and efficiency.

With the corridor driving logistics, logistics driving trade, and trade driving industry, the "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train effectively integrates the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Serving as a vital "artery" of openness and integration, it will not only establish a new logistics channel between China's eastern coastal areas and countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, but also fully leverage its role in cross-regional resource allocation. It will empower the "Shanghai enterprises + Yunnan resources," "Shanghai R&D + Yunnan manufacturing," "Shanghai market + Yunnan products," and "Shanghai headquarters + Yunnan bases" in a two-way manner, exploring a new path for regional synergistic development.

10月8日，“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列开行首发仪式在中铁联集昆明中心站举行。

为深入贯彻落实习近平总书记把中老铁路维护好、运营好，把沿线开发好、建设好的重要指示精神，云南省、上海市及沿线兄弟省市共同商定开行“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列，依托“中老铁路+沪昆铁路”，往返老挝万象—昆明—上海，联通长江经济带、中国—中南半岛经济走廊，持续放大中老铁路黄金线路效应。

省委书记王宁出席仪式并下达发车指令。省委副书记、省长王予波致辞。老挝公共工程运输部部长安巴松·孟玛尼视频致辞。交通运输部副部长徐成光、上海市副市长张小宏致辞。副省长郭大进主持仪式。

王予波对国内外嘉宾表示欢迎。他说，开行“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列，联动“两洋”、沟通“三亚”，是主动服务高质量共建“一带一路”的生动实践，是推进高水平对外开放的重要举措，是放大中老铁路黄金线路效应的具体行动，得到国家各部委、兄弟省区市和有关企业的极大关心支持，也得到周边国家的积极响应参与。我们希望以此为契机，与各方一道持续深入推进设施互通、经贸互惠、产业互促，携手打造包容友好的“朋友圈”、跨越山海的“交通圈”、互利共赢的“经济圈”。

安巴松·孟玛尼说，老中两国不断深化铁路合作，促进区域铁路网联通，开行“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列，将进一步推进“一带一路”合作，推动老挝对接中国云南、上海以及其他国际市场，助力老挝从“陆锁国”转变为“陆联国”，加快成为区域内各国内陆过境路线的贸易与交通枢纽。希望两国携手共进、通力合作，共同将老中铁路打造成为两国人民的发展路、幸福路、友谊路。

徐成光说，我国提出共建“一带一路”倡议十年来，与共建国家交通运输基础设施的互联互通不断推进。中老铁路开通运营以来，跨境货运能力和辐射效应不断增强。“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列开行，实现了“一带一路”、长三角一体化和长江经济带等国家战略的融合贯通，有利于深化东西部协作，促进沪滇两地资源禀赋优势互补，扩大“澜湄快线”国际货运品牌影响力，将让更多地区和企业享受中老铁路带来的机遇和利好。

张小宏说，沪滇两地发挥各自优势，依托沪昆铁路、中老铁路，开行“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列，开创了沪滇合作的新方式、新品牌，必将进一步拓展国内国际市场、畅通国内国际双循环，促进上海全球资源配置功能和云南沿边开放优势双向赋能、协同发展。上海将以共同开行国际货运班列为契机，与云南进一步深化全方位多领域合作，在共同服务全国大局中携手共进，实现共赢发展。

中铁联集昆明中心站负责人报告并作出发车请求。

王宁下达指令：“发车！”

随后，一列满载36车水果、橡胶等东南亚地区特色产品和白糖、金属硅等云南特色产品的班列缓缓驶出站台驶向上海。

首趟“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列采用双向对开发车方式，上海方向班列从上海市临港新片区芦潮港站出发，经沪昆线、中老铁路至老挝万象南站；老挝方向班列从万象南站出发，经磨憨站、王家营西站沿沪昆线至上海市临港新片区芦潮港站。

省领导刘洪建、邱江、刘非出席仪式。国家发展改革委、交通运输部、商务部，以及上海、浙江、江西、湖南、贵州、重庆、四川等省市有关部门负责同志，中国物流集团、中集集团、中远海运集团、上海临港集团等企业负责人，云南省有关部门和单位、有关州（市）负责同志，缅甸、越南、马来西亚、泰国、老挝、柬埔寨驻昆总领事馆官员等参加。（中文稿件来源：云南日报 记者杨猛 左超 韩成圆）