On January 2, a train loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables departs from Kunming Wangjiayingxi Railway Station     for Laos.

　　This marks the milestone of the China-Laos Railway's total freight transport surpassing 50 million tons since its full opening on December 3, 2021, with cross-border cargo reaching 11.58 million tons.

　　"The China-Laos Railway is a golden route that continues friendship and dreams, creating enormous direct and indirect benefits for the people of Laos and the Greater Mekong Subregion," said Vansyavath Siphandone, Governor of Laos's Louang Namtha. "This railway is not only a golden route that continues friendship and dreams and deepens the bond between the two countries, but also a bright mirror reflecting China-Laos friendship, development and cooperation."

　　The China-Laos Railway is just a microcosm of the many glorious development achievements of China's international sister cities. In recent years, Chinese cities have been busy expanding their "circle of friends" internationally. According to the statistics from the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, as of November 2024,     China has established 3,054 sister city (province/state) relationships with 147 countries worldwide.