Thailand approves first phase of $5.5 bln railway project with China

Thailand on Tuesday approved construction of the first

phase of a 5.5-billion US dollar railway project to link the industrial

eastern seaboard with southern China through Laos.

Prime

Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha made use of an executive order last month

to pave the way for the project, which has been beset by delays,

including negotiations on loan terms.

The first phase encompasses six railway stations on a

250km high-speed line linking the Thai capital of Bangkok and the

northeastern Province of Nakorn Ratchasima.

"This

project is part of the development of a regional transport network, in

particular China's 'One Belt One Road' initiative that will link Europe,

Asia and Southeast Asia together," Korbsak Pootrakool, Vice Minister at

the Prime Minister's Office, told reporters.

The link forms part of Beijing's regional infrastructure

drive to connect Chinese cities with Southeast Asia, including

Thailand's industrial zones and its eastern deep sea port.

Thailand's

government said Thai firms will be responsible for construction while

China will be responsible for the railway technology, signal systems and

technical training.

"The project will use Thai materials but Chinese technology will be used in the construction," Prayuth said.

"We will send people to learn this so that we can operate the rail system ourselves in the future."