Railway turns Laos from landlocked to land-linked

Dancers welcome passengers from China at the Vientiane station in Laos on April 13 following the launch of passenger services of the China-Laos Railway. - Xinhua

VIENTIANE: China and Laos are collaborating to facilitate quicker cross-border customs clearance between the two countries to enhance railway transportation efficiency, said a diplomat of the Lao embassy in China.

Chindavong Xaiyasin, counsellor of education and culture at the Lao embassy in China, disclosed in an exclusive interview with China Daily that Laos’ deputy minister of foreign affairs visited Beijing last week to explore ways to further reduce the time taken to clear customs when traveling by train.