（InKunming Lexi）On the morning of April 8th, a press conference for the "Report on the development of the China-Laos Railway" was held in the Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The report was completed on the second anniversary of the opening of the China-Laos Railway and is the first domestic think tank report on the study of the China-Laos Railway.

To strengthen the analysis and research on the comprehensive development and utilization of the China-Laos Railway, the University of International Business and Economics, Kunming University, and the Management Committee of the Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone) actively explored a new "government-industry-university-research-application" model and jointly produced the "Report on the development of the China-Laos Railway 2023". The report focuses on the background, effects, risks, and innovations of the China-Laos Railway construction, forming the main report of "Development Effects and Future Prospects of the China-Laos Railway", as well as main research findings and suggestions on economic and trade cooperation, regional development, social culture, explorations and practice.

The "Report on the development of the China-Laos Railway 2023" regards the China-Laos Railway as a fruitful achievement in the construction of the China-Laos community with a shared future. It is also an important part of building a new development pattern between China and Southeast Asia under the trade rules of RCEP, and a profound practice of the Belt and Road initiative. The China-Laos Railway opens a path through the hinterland of the Indochina Peninsula, radiating to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries, leading to prosperity and wealth. It facilitates cross-border trade by reducing costs and increasing efficiency, further promotes Yunnan’s high-level opening-up, effectively advances the economic and social coordinated development between China and the countries of the Indochina Peninsula, and enhances the competitiveness and international influence of the cultural and tourism industries of China and Laos. It is a model of China sharing development opportunities with the world in a more open manner. The report also suggests promoting development through cooperation in trade, tourism, culture and technology, including optimizing the trade and investment structure to Laos, strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation, introducing intelligent technological empowerment, and advancing the innovation of models and systems, injecting vibrant new energy into the China-Laos Railway.

It is introduced that Wangjiaying Central Station in Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone and Mohan Railway Station respectively serve as the starting and ending points of the domestic section of the China-Laos Railway, connecting the Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Kunming Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the Mohan-Boten Cooperation Zone in space, to establish a "one line, two centers" highly effective linkage development pattern and fully expands the space for undertaking industrial transfer and the cultivation and development of industrial chain. In the past two years, the "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train has opened, the "China-Europe+Lancang-Mekong Line" and "Hunan-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight trains made their first departures from Mohan. As of March 2024, the China-Laos Railway has cumulatively transported 30.3 million passengers and 35 million tons of goods. The comprehensive development along the route has achieved remarkable results, promoting both a breakthrough in Yunnan's opening-up system and the great development of industrial parks along the railway, highlighting the China-Laos Railway’s role as the international golden corridor.

During the conference, a Xingdian Educational Cooperation Symposium was also held, with experts from government, universities, and enterprises engaging in in-depth discussions and exchanges on the China-Laos Railway's economic and trade cooperation, regional development, social culture and practical cases. All parties expressed that they will actively integrate into the national development strategy, continuously deepen southward cooperation, focus on promoting industry-education integration, and build the "great golden corridor" of the China-Laos Railway. They are committed to supporting the construction of the China-Laos Railway and to injecting new momentum into the construction of a radiation center facing South and Southeast Asia.

4月8日上午，《中老铁路发展报告》新闻发布会在自贸试验区昆明片区举行。据介绍，该报告成书于中老铁路开通两周年之际，是国内首部有关中老铁路研究的智库报告。

为加强对中老铁路综合开发利用的分析研究，对外经济贸易大学、昆明学院和昆明经开区（自贸试验区昆明片区）管委会积极探索“政产学研用”新模式，共同形成了《中老铁路发展报告2023》。该书聚焦中老铁路建设的背景、效应、风险、创新等方面，形成《中老铁路发展效应及未来展望》主报告、经贸合作、区域发展、社会文化和探索实践等主要研究成果和建议。

《中老铁路发展报告2023》认为中老铁路是中老命运共同体建设取得的丰硕成果，同时也是在RCEP经贸规则下构建中国与东南亚新发展格局的重要一环，更是“一带一路”倡议的深刻实践。中老铁路能在中南半岛腹地打开一条辐射缅甸、泰国、柬埔寨、越南、马来西亚等国并通向繁荣富足的道路，助力跨境贸易降本增效，进一步促进云南高水平开放，有效推进中国与中南半岛各国经济社会协同发展，提升中老两国文化旅游产业的竞争力和国际影响力，是中国以更开放的姿态与世界分享发展机遇的典范。同时建议从贸易、旅游、文化、技术等多方面合作促进发展，包括优化对老挝贸易投资结构、加强人文交流合作、引入科技智能化赋能等措施，推进模式与制度的创新，为中老铁路注入蓬勃新动能。

据介绍，昆明经开区王家营中心站、磨憨火车站作为中老铁路国内段的起始站和终点站，通过托管和中老铁路这条“黄金大动脉”，把昆明经开区、自贸试验区昆明片区、昆明综合保税区与磨憨—磨丁合作区从空间上联通起来，形成发展“一条线”、园区“两中心”的高效联动发展格局，全力拓展了承接产业转移和产业链培育发展的空间。两年多来，“沪滇·澜湄线”国际货运班列开通，“中欧+澜湄线”、“湘滇·澜湄线”国际货运列车从磨憨出境首发。截至2024年3月，中老铁路累计发送旅客3030万人次，发送货物3500万吨，沿线综合开发成效明显，既推动了云南对外开放体制上的突破，又带动了沿线产业园区的大发展，国际黄金大通道作用更加凸显。

发布会期间，还召开了兴滇教育合作座谈会，来自政府、高校、企业的专家，围绕中老铁路经贸合作、区域发展、社会文化、实践案例等内容进行了深入研讨交流。各方表示，将主动融入国家发展战略，持续深化南向合作，着力推进产教融合，全力打造中老铁路“黄金大通道”，积极为中老铁路建设提供支持，为面向南亚东南亚辐射中心建设注入发展新动能。（中文稿件来源：昆明信息港 记者栗飞 ）