Transport

High speed railway linking Thailand and China takes another step

Published

Thursday, May 28, 2020 10:52

FILE PHOTO

A high speed rail link between Thailand and China is closer to becoming a reality, according to Thai Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob. The signing of “Contract 2.3″ for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section is expected in October this year. China has become a major player in the railway industry and, as a result, many countries, including Thailand, are working with China to develop their own high speed rail networks.

Following the meeting of the 28th Thai-Chinese Joint Committee, Chidchob said the 2 sides agreed on the 50.6 billion baht draft contract including the content on signaling and operation systems. The 253 kilometre rail route from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast is part of a stage 2 project which will ultimately link Bangkok to NongKhai, bordering Laos.

The first phase covers a 125 billion baht link from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima. The second, expected to cost 200 billion baht,will run 355 kilometres from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai. For the second project, Thailand is working with China’s State Railway Group.

The projects form part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, launched by President Xi Jin-ping 6 years ago, according to the president of the All-China Journalists Association.

“This Belt & Road Initiative project will help China integrate with the rest of the world and link the Chinese dream with the global dream.”

The Belt and Road Initiative was developed to bolster economic and social ties with 65 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, covering an estimated population of 4.4 billion people.

“I think it is important. The project will help connect people in the two countries via Laos. It can help promote socio-economic development and prosperity in these two countries and also across the whole Asian region. China has made a lot of investments in Laos. Among them is the China-Laos Railway, running from Kunming to Vientiane.”

Under Contract 2.3, 80% of the payment will be made in US dollars and the remaining 20% in baht.

The signing is scheduled for October or sooner before the 5 year project commences. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will preside over the signing ceremony at Government House.

SOURCES: Bangkok Post | TNA

Get more from The Thaiger

📱 Download our app on Android or iOS
👋 Have your say on our Thailand forums
🔔 Subscribe to our daily email newsletter
📺 Subscribe / Join YouTube for daily shows
👍 Like/Follow us on Facebook
🐦 FOLLOW us on Twitter
📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram

Related Topics:Bangok China high Laos Nakhon Si Ratchasima railway speed

Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.

Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.

Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

Create an Account

2 Comments

Clyde James

Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 2:59 pm

The dream of economic prosperity and modernization based on the pictures painted by the CCP are enticing many political leaders to sign agreements that bind them ever closer to CCP influence and control. The question is whether the dream will match reality.
Many countries are finding that they have become indebted to an evil political party that rules ruthlessly. Welcoming large investments by foreign companies, banks, and holding companies that are serving as fronts for the CCP has bankrupt native business owners who can not compete with CCP networks. By controlling tourism, transportation, hotels, accomodations, and hardware and dry good markets the CCP government gains control (ownership) of the means of production and the distribution goods and services. These my friends are the definition of communism. As the Thai saying goes “Beware of raising a baby tiger, for when it grows up it will eat you”.
Look to the youth of Hong Kong for insight, do not let this happen to Thailand. Do not sell your souls to the devil.
Please note that nothing that has been stated above is an inflection on Chinese people, for they suffer greatly under the CCP’s crushing fist. China and its people will offer great hope and prosperity to the world when if ever they throw off the enslaving yoke of the CCP communist dictatorship and join the free capitalistic democracies of the world.

Reply
- Lee
  
  Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 11:11 am
  
  Got to be totally out of your mind. Imagine the immense economic benefits the HSR will bring to Thailand. Your colonial mentality is insanely envious of Asian progress and western decline and decay.
  
  Reply

Jack Burton

Jack Burton is an American writer, broadcaster, linguist and journalist who has lived in Asia since 1987. A native of the state of Georgia, he attended the The University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism, which hands out journalism's prestigious Peabody Awards. His works have appeared in The China Post, The South China Morning Post, The International Herald Tribune and many magazines throughout Asia and the world. He is fluent in Mandarin and has appeared on television and radio for decades in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Up Next

Central buys Family Mart Thailand

Don't Miss

More people charged in illegal surrogacy scandal