Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged an acceleration in the construction pace of the high-speed railway, part of the ambitious Southeast Asia railway network, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

the construction of the China-Thailand high-speed railway

While Wang Yi did not specify a timeline, the Thai government expects the 873-kilometer section to be operational by 2028.

Construction of a railway station on the British high-speed rail line HS2

As part of the “Belt and Road” initiative, supported by President Xi Jinping, China aims to establish a high-speed railway network from Kunming in southwest China to Singapore in the south, passing through Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

However, the Thai segment has faced delays due to issues like cost distribution and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During talks with Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha in Bangkok, Wang Yi emphasized the need for swift implementation of the China-Laos-Thailand connectivity concept.

Thailand’s authorities report that the first phase of construction from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is over 15% complete and is expected to be operational by 2027, with the second phase targeted for completion by 2028. In 2016, the

Thai section experienced delays when Bangkok rejected Chinese financing due to high interest rates.

Subsequently, Thailand agreed to cover the entire construction cost of 252 kilometers for the first phase, amounting to 179 billion baht (5 billion dollars), with China responsible for system installation, design, train procurement, and the second phase connecting Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai on the Laos border, ultimately linking with China.

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