As China’s gateway to South and Southeast Asia, Yunnan is accelerating infrastructure development to transform its border economy. Major projects in transportation, logistics, digital connectivity, and energy are injecting strong momentum into regional opening up.
The newly operational Linxiang–Qingshuihe Expressway, built with the support of local state-owned enterprises (SOEs), interconnects 24 counties across eight prefectures and forms a key “golden corridor” linking Kunming to the Indian Ocean. With the completion of all China–Vietnam, China–Laos, and China–Myanmar expressways within Yunnan, the province now boasts comprehensive expressway connectivity for outbound routes.
The China–Laos Railway continues to play a vital role, having carried over 55 million passengers by mid-July, including more than 530,000 international travelers. In July, the “Zheng He” international freight train linked China to Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, and Bangladesh, creating a broad logistics network across South and Southeast Asia.
A new expressway connecting Mengyuan to Guanlei Port has slashed travel time from 80 to 20 minutes, thanks to smart toll systems deployed by SOEs.
Cross-border road transport is expanding rapidly, with new services connecting China to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. Yunnan SOEs are also enhancing customs facilities, port operations, and logistics services to support trade.
Cold chain logistics is driving new growth in cross-border trade. The Dehong (Ruili) National Cold Chain Logistics Base, covering over 1,000 mu, handles over one million tons of goods annually and supports full-category products such as fruits, seafood, and medicinal herbs. Regular cold chain services now connect Yunnan with Thailand via the China–Laos–Thailand route, enabling efficient two-way flow of fresh goods.
In digital infrastructure, SOEs are leading the construction of an international computing hub based in Yunnan. With the launch of new data centers, cross-border fiber networks, and low-latency communication zones, Yunnan is building a strong foundation for regional digital connectivity.
Yunnan’s abundant clean energy — over 90 percent of its 150 million-kilowatt capacity — is a key advantage. The province is exploring integrated models of “computing power + green electricity” for cross-border digital services.
According to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Yunnan Province, Yunnan’s SOEs will continue to drive the development of offshore data centers, international computing corridors, and smart applications in tourism, finance, and healthcare — empowering border economy growth with innovation and sustainability.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
