11月18日，《万象时报》刊载对驻琅勃拉邦总领事张社平的专访，英文原文（附中文译文）如下：

Exploring the Impact of Laos’ Visa-Free Policy and the China-Laos Railway on Tourism and Investment

探讨老挝免签政策和中老铁路对旅游和投资的影响

The Vientiane Times was granted an exclusive interview with the Chinese Consular General in Luang Prabang, Mr Zhang Sheping  which focused on the impact of Laos’ visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups and ease of travel via the Laos-China railway.

《万象时报》独家专访了中国驻琅勃拉邦总领事张社平先生，重点关注老挝对中国旅行团实施免签政策以及通过中老铁路出行的便利性。

Q: The Lao government decided to waive the visa requirement for Chinese tour groups from July to December this year. Has this made a difference to travellers?

问：老挝政府决定从今年7月至12月对中国旅行团免签。这给旅行者会带来什么影响？

A: The visa waiver has made travel easier because Chinese nationals do not need to apply for a visa in advance and can enter Laos with just an ordinary passport. This saves time and money and means people can "travel on a whim" at any time.

答：免签政策让出行更加容易。中国旅游团队只需持有普通护照即可入境老挝，无需提前办理签证，不仅节省了时间和经费，而且可以随时来一趟“说走就走的旅行”。

Q: Has the visa waiver led to an increase in tourist numbers?

问：免签政策是否促进游客人数增加呢？

A: Yes, there’s been a remarkable rise. According to statistics supplied by the Mohan Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, the number of inbound and outbound tourist groups has increased by more than 14 times year-on-year since the beginning of this year, reaching a record high in inbound and outbound tourist groups in a single day of more than 60 groups consisting of more than 1,200 people. The number of inbound and outbound passengers passing through the Mohan Railway Port has exceeded 183,000 so far this year, an increase of 67.9 percent over the total number of customs clearances last year. 

In the first nine months of this year, Luang Prabang, where the Chinese Consulate General is located, received more than 1.583 million domestic and foreign tourists, exceeding the target figure, of which Chinese tourists accounted for the highest proportion. These figures indicate that the visa-free policy has sparked a significant rise in Chinese tourism in Laos.

答：是的，据磨憨出入境边防检查站统计，今年以来，出入境旅游团数量同比增长14倍多，单日验放出入境旅游团创最高纪录，达60余团1200余人。磨憨铁路口岸今年出入境旅客已超18.3万余人次，较去年通关总量增长67.9%。今年前9个月，总领馆所在地琅勃拉邦接待国内外游客超过158.3万人次，超额完成目标，其中中国游客占比最高。这些数据表明，免签政策极大便利了中国公民赴老旅游。

Q: Has the policy boosted interest in Laos as a travel destination?

问：这项政策是否提高了中国游客赴老挝旅游的兴趣？

A: Absolutely. According to data from the Ctrip platform, after the visa-free policy was issued, the search popularity of Laos-related keywords increased by 87 percent month-on-month, showing that Chinese people are very interested in visiting Laos and have a high degree of favourability towards the policy. Chinese tourists' travel orders to Laos doubled year-on-year, and summer travel orders to Laos increased by more than 140 percent year-on-year.  

答：当然。据携程平台数据显示，免签政策发布后，老挝相关关键词搜索热度日环比增长87%，显示出中国公民对赴老挝旅游的强烈兴趣，对免签政策的好感度非常高。中国游客赴老挝旅游订单同比翻番，暑期赴老挝旅游订单同比增长超140%。

I believe that the majority of tourists are looking forward to the continued implementation of this short-term group visa exemption policy. Of course, it would be even better if the visa exemption could be broadened to include both groups and individuals.

我相信广大旅客都期待这项短期团体免签政策能继续实施。当然，如果能对中国公民个人也实行免签政策就更好了。

Q: Since the China-Laos Railway became operational, have you seen changes in Chinese investment in Laos, particularly in the north?

问：中老铁路正式开通之后，中国企业在老挝特别是老北投资意向有何变化？

A: The China-Laos Railway has transformed the investment landscape as it has made both passenger and freight travel more efficient. It has effectively contributed to high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Laos, helped Laos to fulfil its plan to "transform a landlocked country into a land-linked country", greatly improved road traffic conditions in northern Laos, reduced logistics costs, and facilitated personnel connections.

答：中老铁路改变了投资格局，客运和货运都更加高效。中老铁路有力促进了中老高质量共建“一带一路”，助力老挝实施“变陆锁国为陆联国”战略，极大改善了老北交通出行条件，降低了物流成本，便利了人员往来。

With the transformation and upgrading of China's industries, Laos and other ASEAN countries are becoming increasingly popular investment destinations. Since the railway opened, Chinese investors are more interested than ever in Laos, especially in sectors like tourism, agriculture, mining, and logistics. For example, in Luang Prabang, we’ve seen a surge in hotel and restaurant investments, as well as agricultural projects. Chinese companies are actively planting crops like bananas, peppers, potatoes and other cash crops in many provinces of northern Laos. 

随着中国产业转型升级，老挝和其他东盟国家日益成为投资热土。自中老铁路开通以来，中国投资者对老挝的兴趣空前高涨，在旅游、农业、矿业、物流等行业尤为突出。比如在琅勃拉邦，酒店餐饮投资和农业项目激增。中国企业在老北多省积极种植香蕉、辣椒、土豆等经济作物。

Q: Could you provide some significant statistics concerning use of the  railway?

问：能否提供一些铁路运量情况的统计数据？

A: Certainly. As of November 4, the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway carried 3 million passengers, meeting the 2024 passenger target 56 days ahead of schedule, an increase of 44.4 percent over the 2.078 million passengers carried in the same period last year. 108,200 passengers travelled on the international rail link, an increase of 165.8 percent year-on-year. 

答：当然可以。截至11月4日，中老铁路老挝段发送旅客达300万人次，提前56天完成了2024年全年客运目标，比去年同期的207.8万人次增长了44.4%，其中国际旅客列车发送10.82万人次，同比增长165.8%。

In the first three quarters of this year, the import and export of goods through the China-Laos Railway reached 3.766 million tons, an increase of 15 percent, and the total import and export volume increased by 50.7 percent. In the first seven months, the value of trade between China and Laos amounted to 29.54 billion yuan, an increase of 35.2 percent, of which China's exports to Laos were valued at 13.53 billion yuan, an increase of 41.7 percent, and imports from Laos were 16.01 billion yuan, an increase of 30.2 percent. From January to September, Lao banana exports to China increased by 129.88 percent year-on-year, with an output value of about US$29 million. Chinese companies' investment in northern Laos is growing rapidly.  

今年前三季度，通过中老铁路进出口货物达到376.6万吨，增长15%，进出口总额增长50.7%。今年前7个月，中老贸易额达295.4亿元人民币，增长35.2%，其中中国对老挝出口135.3亿元，增长41.7%，自老挝进口160.1亿元，增长30.2%。1－9月老挝香蕉对中国出口同比增长129.88%，产值约2900万美元。中国企业在老北投资快速增长。

In the first 10 months, Chinese investors registered US$7.76 million in new projects in Luang Prabang, an increase of 87 percent from the US$4.14 million recorded in the whole of 2023.

前10个月，中国投资者在琅勃拉邦新增项目注册资金为776万美元，比2023年414万美元增长87%。

Q: Despite these successes, what challenges exist in China-Laos cooperation, especially in the border area?

问：除了这些成绩，中老合作特别是在边境地区还面临哪些挑战？

A: Telecom network fraud and online gambling have become regional public hazards not only to China and Laos, but also trigger upstream and downstream crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, human smuggling, corruption, and human trafficking, which seriously endanger the safety of life and property, social stability and international image of people in the region, including China and Laos. 

答：电信网络诈骗犯罪和网络赌博犯罪已成为中老两国面临的地区公害，并衍生出洗钱、贩毒、人口走私、腐败、人口拐卖等上下游犯罪，严重危害包括中老两国在内的本地区民众生命财产安全、社会稳定和国际形象。

China is willing to work with Laos to strengthen cooperation to jointly combat all forms of cross-border crime. 

中方愿同老方一道，加强合作，合力打击各种形式的跨境犯罪。

I believe you are aware of the "China-ASEAN Joint Statement on Combatting Telecom Network Fraud and Online Gambling" adopted at the 27th China-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting held in Vientiane last month.

相信你已经注意到上个月在万象举行的第27次中国—东盟领导人会议通过的《中国—东盟关于打击电信网络诈骗和网络赌博的联合声明》。