Thailand to continue high-speed railway talks with China

 The Transport Ministry will hold contract talks with China for the joint high-speed railway project during the ASEAN Summit in November. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

The Transport Ministry of Thailand will hold contract talks with China for the joint high-speed railway project between Bangkok and northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province during the ASEAN Summit in November.

Local media quoted Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob as saying on September 20 that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will also attend the 35th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Bangkok.

Thai officials and their Chinese counterparts have yet to reach a deal on the so-called “Contract 2.3” worth about 50 billion THB (1.64 billion USD), which covers the cost of purchasing tracks, an electricity system, machinery, procurement of train carriages and training.

Contract 2.3 is one of 14 separate deals that are required for the project’s first phase, including construction of 125-billion THB section stretching 252.5 kilometres from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima.

Meanwhile, Ruth Banomyong, an academic at Thammasat University’s Department of International Business, Logistics and Transport, said diplomatic and financial officials have questioned whether the Thai Government has enough money to finance the second phase of the joint project in the northeastern region.

The second phase is a 355-kilometre-long section from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, which cost about 200 billion THB./.

VNA