CHENGDU, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A freight train loaded with cargo containers departed from Dazhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Wednesday, marking the launch of a new international freight train service via the China-Laos Railway.

Aerial photo taken on April 22, 2022 shows Liaoning's first international freight train that runs via the China-Laos Railway departing from Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (File photo: Xinhua)

The train will pass through southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Yunnan Province and Luang Prabang in northern Laos before arriving at the Laotian capital Vientiane.

With the opening of this new route, the transport time from Dazhou to Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia, will be shortened to three to four days.

The new freight train service will facilitate the collection of cargo from eastern Sichuan and Chongqing, and also help key local enterprises in expanding their market presence in the Indo-China Peninsula and Southeast Asia.

The China-Laos Railway, which kicked off operations on Dec. 3, 2021, stretches over 1,000 km, linking Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, with Vientiane. Now, a total of 21 provinces and regions have launched freight train service via the China-Laos Railway.