Chongqing - Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President, led a delegation to Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on June 19, aiming to enhance cooperation and exchange. They seek to glean insights from Chongqing’s experience in poverty alleviation, manufacturing industry development, and inland opening-up, to propel the development of Laos.

Yuan Jiajun, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, said that China will work together with Laos to earnestly implement the important consensus reached between  Xi Jingping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President, and General Secretary Thongloun, jointly build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level community of shared future.

On June 19, Yuan Jiajun, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee (right), had a conversation with Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President (left), on strengthening the cooperation. (Photo/Su Si)

Development of the China-Laos community with a shared future

Yuan said that Chongqing is advancing the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), fully leveraging the China-Laos Railway, and developing a regular lorry service between Chongqing and Laos. 

He continued that these efforts aim to intensify cooperation between Chongqing and Laos, as well as other ASEAN countries, in areas such as economy, trade, education, and cultural exchanges. 

The Chongqing Dry Port project, a great example serves as a comprehensive international logistics hub integrating logistics, trade, industry, and finance, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023, supporting regional economic cooperation. 

Thongloun highlighted the substantial opportunities brought by deepening trade exchanges and cooperation between Chongqing and Laos, through collaboration in joint planning, construction, and utilization of the ILSTC. He also emphasized the importance of actively integrating into the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor and contributing to Chongqing's efforts to the development of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

The China-Laos Railway, which commenced operation in December 2021, has opened up a logistics corridor between China and Southeast Asia, injecting fresh momentum into China-ASEAN economic and trade development.

Through the China-Laos Railway, Laos exports goods such as cassava starch, beer, and bananas to China, while China exports motorcycles, new energy vehicles, and other goods to Laos. The railway has established a convenient international logistics channel between China and ASEAN, reducing geographical distances, improving logistics efficiency, and expanding bilateral markets.

Laotian bananas are transported to Chongqing via refrigerated containers on the China-Laos Railway. (Photo/Chen Yuting)

"Over one million tons of Laotian bananas enter China annually. We plan to establish an inducing banana ripening and distribution center here to enable more Laotian bananas to access the inland market through the corridor," said a staff member at the Chongqing Dry Port. 

Currently, the Chongqing-Laos freight trains have accumulated 368 trips, transporting 8,424 containers with a cargo value of 1.187 billion yuan. The freight volume and value rank among the top cities with operational China-Laos freight trains. 

Over 2000% increase in gross income after digitized management

On June 20, Thongloun visited Huaxi Village, Zhongyi Township, Shizhu County, Chongqing. As a national demonstration village in poverty alleviation, Huaxi Village has accumulated rich practical experience and replicable results.

Particularly in the digitized management of rural industries, Huaxi Village has already begun utilizing information technology with monitoring probes and data collectors. These devices are primarily used to detect soil moisture, temperature, and climate conditions.

"After applying digital information technology, the gross income of crispy peaches increased from 24,000 yuan in 2021 to 490,000 yuan in 2022, representing a growth of approximately 2,000%," said Sun Bin, the first secretary of the Shizhu County Party Committee Office stationed in Huaxi Village.

Digital industry monitoring screen in Huaxi Village. (Photo/Chen Yuting)

Sun further explained that by installing monitoring probes and data collectors, villagers can observe real-time information on leaf conditions, collect data on soil changes, temperature, humidity, and transmit it to farmers through networking. This helps in management, early warning systems, enhances the level of care, and reduces labor costs.