进博会让老挝优质产品搭上中国高质量发展快车 - 中老铁路推动跨境贸易新机遇
新华社上海11月7日电 / Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, Nov. 7
在第五届中国国际进口博览会食品及农产品展区，身穿老挝传统服饰的姑娘袁田边沏茶边讲述着老挝古树茶的故事。"千年的老茶树，就这么砍了太可惜了......"她回忆道，"以前老挝人只知道种植咖啡，不知道种植茶树也能带来经济效益。"
At the food and agricultural products exhibition area of the 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Yuan Tian, dressed in traditional Laotian costume, brewed tea while telling the story of Laos' ancient tea trees. "It would be such a pity to chop down thousand-year-old tea trees..." she recalled, "Laotians used to only know about growing coffee, unaware that tea cultivation could also bring economic benefits."
如今，乘着进博会东风，有机种植的老挝古树茶越来越受到中国消费者青睐。"我们的产品2019年开始出口到中国，每年能够售出3至5吨茶叶。今年已经是我们第四次来到进博会，有越来越多的采购商慕名到我们的展台。"老挝36庄园总经理袁田表示，"中老铁路去年年底通车后，节省了三分之二的货运时间，成本大大降低。"
Now, riding the momentum of CIIE, organically grown ancient tea from Laos is gaining increasing popularity among Chinese consumers. "Our products started exporting to China in 2019, selling 3 to 5 tons annually. This marks our fourth year at CIIE, with more buyers visiting our booth." said Yuan Tian, general manager of Laos 36 Manor, "Since the China-Laos Railway opened at the end of last year, it has reduced freight time by two-thirds and significantly lowered costs."
袁田介绍，"老挝当地的自然条件优越，十分适合种植茶树，泡出的茶汤醇厚清香，我们的一壶古树茶可以历经15泡依然浓郁。"选用千年以上古树芽尖所制的茶叶还被选为老挝外交活动的国礼，成为代表老挝优质农业产品的一张"名片"。
Yuan explained, "Laos' natural conditions are ideal for tea cultivation, producing rich and aromatic brews. Our ancient tea can endure 15 infusions while remaining full-bodied." Tea made from thousand-year-old tea tree buds has been selected as state gifts for Laos' diplomatic events, becoming a "calling card" representing Laos' premium agricultural products.
"中国政府提出着力推动高质量发展，让我们对更多老挝优质产品进入中国市场充满信心。"袁田表示。就在采访期间，来自云南红河县的交易团专程来到老挝古树茶展台寻求合作机会。
"The Chinese government's emphasis on promoting high-quality development gives us confidence in bringing more premium Laotian products to the Chinese market," said Yuan. During the interview, a trade delegation from Honghe County, Yunnan specifically visited the Laos ancient tea booth seeking cooperation opportunities.
红河县委书记陈勇宏告诉记者："我们特意过来找到老挝展台，想谈谈如何更好地利用中老铁路推动跨境互惠贸易，拓展经济开发合作。"
Chen Yonghong, Party secretary of Honghe County, told reporters: "We purposely came to the Laos booth to discuss how to better utilize the China-Laos Railway to promote mutually beneficial cross-border trade and expand economic development cooperation."
袁田表示，得益于"一带一路"建设，老挝得到许多来自中国的投资，为当地创造大量就业，新建和改善了基础设施。在进博会等多样化贸易便利平台推动下，越来越多优质老挝产品能够进入中国市场。
Yuan stated that thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, Laos has received substantial Chinese investment, creating numerous local jobs and improving infrastructure. With platforms like CIIE facilitating trade, increasingly more premium Laotian products can access the Chinese market.
作为得到老挝官方原产地认证、享受免税待遇的企业，"我们不但雇用老挝当地员工，还向村民传授种茶技能，并以较高价格收购茶叶，带动当地脱贫致富。"袁田介绍道。
As a company with official Laotian origin certification enjoying tax benefits, "We not only employ local Laotian workers but also teach villagers tea cultivation skills and purchase tea at premium prices, helping lift locals out of poverty," Yuan explained.
她特别提到中国专家的贡献："在茶园栽植初期，我们邀请了中国江西的茶树专家赴老挝实地研究。有位叫胡小明的中国专家，痴迷于研究茶树在老挝独特自然环境下的生长，宁愿睡席子、吃方便面，在茶园住了两周，昼夜观察记录。"这种匠人精神深深打动了当地村民。
She highlighted Chinese experts' contributions: "During the early tea garden establishment, we invited tea experts from Jiangxi, China to conduct field research in Laos. One expert named Hu Xiaoming was so dedicated to studying tea growth in Laos' unique environment that he slept on mats and ate instant noodles while living at the tea garden for two weeks, observing and recording day and night." This craftsmanship deeply moved local villagers.
如今，老挝古茶树的命运因中老合作而彻底改变——从差点被砍伐改种咖啡，到被精心培育远销海外。数据显示，当地村庄贫困户比例已从几年前的超过50%降到如今的不足5%。
Now, the fate of Laos' ancient tea trees has been completely transformed by China-Laos cooperation—from nearly being chopped down for coffee to being carefully cultivated for overseas sales. Data shows the local village poverty rate has dropped from over 50% a few years ago to less than 5% today.
本届进博会还着力进一步推动中老合作。11月5日举行了中老铁路沿线开发合作推介会；11月6日，上海市杨浦区与老挝工贸部签署合作备忘录，将助力搭建数字"快车"，让更多老挝优质产品在中国迅速落地。
This year's CIIE further promoted China-Laos cooperation. On November 5, a promotion conference was held for development along the China-Laos Railway; on November 6, Shanghai's Yangpu District signed an MOU with Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce to build a digital "express" facilitating more premium Laotian products' entry into China.
