China, neighbors boost cross-border logistics

"It shortens the travel time. We can have breakfast in Thailand, enjoy our lunch in Laos, and have supper in China," said Yoo Chienyuenyongpong, chairman of a Thailand-based logistics company.

He was referring to the Kunming-Bangkok Highway, a transnational road running from the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province through Laos to Bangkok, Thailand's capital.

Since it opened in 2008 and the fourth bridge across Mekong River was put into use last year, China, Laos and Thailand have become more connected, socially and economically, he said.

Logistics enterprises want more free flows of goods to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

"In the next decade, cross-border transportation and logistics in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) will enter into a new era with enhanced ties between China, South and Southeast Asian countries," said Liu Jinxin, secretary-general of the Greater Mekong Subregion Logistics Research Center, on Monday.

GMS comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China's Yunnan Province. About 240 million people live in the region.

"We hope to deepen cooperation, improve local logistics network and build stable and harmonious relations with more nations and companies," said Yoo Chienyuenyongpong.

His expectation was echoed by Somphone Phasavath, deputy managing director of Lao Freight Forwarder, who said there are about 18 transnational roads connecting Laos with neighboring countries.

Foreign trade volume in Mohan Port on the China-Laos border exceeded 1.5 million tonnes last year, up 26.7 percent year on year. From January to April this year, the figure stood at 992,000 tonnes, a 60 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

The two countries worked hard to establish the Mohan-Moding economic cooperation zone, giving priority to warehousing and logistics.

Under the influence of globalization and regional integration, border regions are not forbidden zones anymore, but have great economic opportunities, said Cai Jin, deputy head of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

He said cross-border cooperation has also been expanded into new areas in addition to trade, so the logistics industry needs to be developed urgently.

Enterprises Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand established a logistics alliance this month "to share freight resources and provide secure transnational transport services."