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A vision for the future through GMS

透过 GMS，看见多彩的未来

By our staff correspondents □ 本刊综合

As one strolls through the streets of Kunming in Yunnan, in Kunming. “We’ve incorporated Yunnan’s matsutake panded by nearly 200,000 kilometers, almost doubling land
the enticing aromas of lemongrass, galangal, and coconut mushrooms into our classic Tom Yum soup, replacing the transport volumes and significantly contributing to regional
milk from Thai street food stalls mingle with the rich scent traditional Thai mushrooms and creating a new flavor,” economic development.
of Vietnamese coffee, creating a captivating atmosphere. she said. The China-Laos Railway, connecting Vientiane, Laos, to
Data from two comprehensive lifestyle service platforms This fusion not only earns praise from customers but Kunming, China, has transformed Laos from a “landlocked
in China, Meituan and Dianping, reveal that in the first ten also symbolizes the strengthening cultural and economic country” to a “land-linked nation,” underscoring its role as a
months of this year, over 160 new Southeast Asian culinary ties between China and the Mekong countries. “golden passage.”
establishments have been listed in Kunming, with the ma- Fueled by cooperation mechanisms and frameworks such Wang Feng, head of Yunnan Chuxiong Wanjin Agricul-
jority featuring cuisine from Mekong countries. as the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Lancang-Mekong tural Development Co., Ltd., said that the opening of the
Having lived in China for over two decades, Thai Cooperation (LMC), the Regional Comprehensive Eco- China-Laos Railway has unlocked new market opportunities
national Wu Minqing has observed the emergence of nomic Partnership (RCEP), and the Belt and Road Initiative for the company. “We used to mainly target the domestic
the “Southeast Asian food trend.” Since open- (BRI), collaboration between China and the Mekong coun- market, but now, thanks to the cold chain logistics offered
ing his first restaurant in 2005, Wu has tries continues to deepen, resulting in significant achieve- by the China-Laos Railway, we have exported over 20 types
expanded to eight Thai restaurants ments. In the first half of 2024, trade between China and the of vegetables to Mekong countries.”
Mekong countries exceeded US$ 200 billion, reflecting a In June of this year, a cross-border transport fleet depart-
12% increase compared to the previous year. ed from Kunming and traveled through China, Laos, Thai-
Information from the official GMS website indicates that land, and Cambodia over six days, reaching Phnom Penh af-
over the past decade, the GMS highway network has ex- ter covering approximately 2,500 kilometers. This trial run