Thailand urged to move promptly in line with Belt and Road Initiative

BANGKOK, May 13 (APD) - Thailand is yet to take steps in prompt and timely fashion toward China-aided infrastructure and investment projects in this Southeast Asian country, said a Thai academic.

Sawai Wisawanand, senior researcher at Chulalongkorn University's China Study Center, urged the Thai government under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to quickly move toward the implementation of mega-billion infrastructure and investment schemes in line with China's Belt and Road Initiative, a summit on which is scheduled for the upcoming Sunday and Monday in Beijing.

The senior academic's views apparently supportive to compatible with those earlier expressed by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak who assured that Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor projects will be practically connected with China's Belt and Road Initiative, especially regarding infrastructural development plans.

Somkid made his assurances to a group of visiting businesspersons from Shanghai and Hong Kong who were interested to invest in Thailand's EEC projects.

Nevertheless, Thailand is yet to get well prepared for the implementing of its infrastructure projects such as hi-speed rail project to link southern China with Thai northeastern and eastern areas via northern Laos, Sawai said during an interview with APD.

''Strategically speaking, China looks on Thailand as center of the ASEAN region in which a variety of infrastructure and investment projects can be carried out under support of the Chinese government,'' the Chulalongkorn academic said.

Thailand could possibly miss the opportunity to carry out its major investment and infrastructure projects under the Chinese support if this country was finally found unprepared or moved on belatedly, according to the senior researcher.

Sawai said China had planned to launch economic and investment ventures throughout the ASEAN region by way of Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. Thus, several countries, namely Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia, besides Thailand, can be put on focus for Chinese ventures, the expert told APD.

''The Chinese might not wait too long (for Thailand) and might instead choose Cambodia in the wake of

opportunities to make presence in the Southeast Asian region,'' he commented.

(ASIA PACIFIF DAILY)