Negotiator says concrete progress made in Thai-China railway talks

BANGKOK - Chinese chief negotiator Wang Xiaotao said on Wednesday that China and Thailand have made concrete progress in their talks on the construction of a railway in Thailand.

After the 5th meeting of Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between the Thailand and China, Wang said the two sides have reached a wide range of consensus and achievements on feasibility study, investment frame and personnel training.

The chief negotiator said China is conducting the feasibility study of the project, and has completed the route design. The Chinese side has forwarded its design and proposals to the Thai side.

According to the agreement, China has also detailed programs for the control center and fiber communication.

Thai Transport Minister Prajin Juntong told reporters that the talks have made concrete progress in terms of the running routes and feasibility study.

Expressing his appreciation and gratitude on the efficient work of the Chinese side, he said the two sides have agreed to speed up the feasibility study and set up a joint team on the negotiation of engineering, procurement and construction contract.

The Thai side has proposed at the meeting that Thailand hopes to run and manage the railway with a joint-venture between Thailand and China. The Chinese side will consider providing favorable credit to Thailand with a fixed interest rate.

The next round of meeting will be held in China's northwestern city of Xi'an in early August.

Thailand and China sign a MOU last year on jointly developing a medium-speed railway that connects northeast Thailand's Nong Khai province, the capital of Bangkok and the eastern Rayong province.

It is expected that the first-phase construction of the 867-km-long railway will start in October.