Chinese President Xi Jinping told Thai PM Srettha Thavisin, during their bilateral meeting in Beijing, that the two countries should accelerate construction of the China-Thailand railway and expand cooperation in the digital economy, green development and new energy.

 

Both countries must also intensify efforts to crack down on cross-border crimes, such as telecom fraud and online gambling, to create a safer environment for the development of both countries.

 

China’s Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying that China is willing to share more opportunities in China’s vast market. China stands ready to work together with Thailand to add new dimensions to their family-like relations as well as transform advantages of the traditional friendship into a driving force for win-win cooperation.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-10-20

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

It's gonna be great. The train that China build in Laos is pretty amazing. Thailand could greatly benefit.

57 minutes ago, RabbitFoot said:

It's gonna be great. The train that China build in Laos is pretty amazing. Thailand could greatly benefit.

Please tell. In what way do you think that Thailand will benefit from this 'pretty amazing' train?

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Thai PM Srettha Thavisin, during their bilateral meeting in Beijing, that the two countries

That's true they should........ How about speeding  it up by lending some money off of them, ....thats  worked out well for some of the African countries........

26 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Please tell. In what way do you think that Thailand will benefit from this 'pretty amazing' train?

Better connectivity.

24 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Please tell. In what way do you think that Thailand will benefit from this 'pretty amazing' train?

The 2nd cheapest way to move freight is by train, you have a land locked country on your boarder---since Lao's can not take advantage of the cheapest way to move freight (shipping) then it is supplied mainly by the 2 countries China / Thailand... (Vietnam is starting to move into gear now also) I moved up to Issan 20 years ago and the changes in the roads system here has been tremendous New ring roads around city's. Terrific expansion and upgrade of the  main highway into Lao's  What was the main bridge in Nong Khai--there are now 4 bridges.....  Nong Khai-Vientiane, Mukdahan-Savannakhet, Nakhon Phanom-Kham Muan, and Chiang Rai-Bo Kaeo.  And still the commercial traffic (Trucks) line up at the border. 

 

A faster train service is not only about people going on holiday.

1 hour ago, RabbitFoot said:

It's gonna be great. The train that China build in Laos is pretty amazing. Thailand could greatly benefit.

Maybe for China, but not so much for Laos:

Laos debt at 'critical level' with China payments still opaque

Economists say ASEAN nation obscuring true scale of crisis

 

September 22, 2023

 

"Laos' public and publicly guaranteed debt stands at 123% of GDP as of 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund. More than half is owed to China, which has funded several large infrastructure projects in the country in recent years, a situation some economists have called "debt-trap diplomacy": As Laos struggles to pay, Chinese debt deferment is conducted with no transparency, obscuring the true scale of the crisis and raising fears around Beijing's growing sway over the country."

 

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Laos-debt-at-critical-level-with-China-payments-still-opaque

 

China’s promise of prosperity brought Laos debt — and distress

"Laos is also an economy in distress. Inflation rose to more than 41 percent at its peak this spring. The Laotian kip has depreciated more than 43 percent against the U.S. dollar. In a country where virtually everything is imported, the statistics translate into sacrifice: farmers who can no longer afford fertilizer, children who have dropped out of school to work and families cutting back on health care."

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2023/laos-debt-china-belt-road/

 

 

Edited October 20, 20232 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

3 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Maybe for China, but not so much for Laos:

Laos debt at 'critical level' with China payments still opaque

Economists say ASEAN nation obscuring true scale of crisis

 

September 22, 2023

 

"Laos' public and publicly guaranteed debt stands at 123% of GDP as of 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund. More than half is owed to China, which has funded several large infrastructure projects in the country in recent years, a situation some economists have called "debt-trap diplomacy": As Laos struggles to pay, Chinese debt deferment is conducted with no transparency, obscuring the true scale of the crisis and raising fears around Beijing's growing sway over the country."

 

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Laos-debt-at-critical-level-with-China-payments-still-opaque

 

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

"Laos has had to make compromises, including on its own sovereignty, to appease Beijing and seek some financial forbearance, allowing Chinese security agents and police to operate in the country as Beijing extends its repression beyond its borders, according to human rights groups and Lao activists. The Laotian electrical grid is now partly controlled by China, in what analysts believe is a trade-off in lieu of debt repayments. A Chinese company provides security for the new train line."

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2023/laos-debt-china-belt-road/

 

It is beyond rational, that Thailand has not done this already. For the movement of cargo, if nothing else. The highways are clogged with trucks of all sizes, due to a lack of planning. And the trains here are quite an embarrassment. Even if you decide to travel by train here on the antique cars, you have to deal with consistent delays of 30 minutes to 3 hours. I gave up using them. 

 

Thailand desperately needs high speed rail, for people and cargo. The lack of planning is an abomination.

 

The rail projects should be accelerated. Thailand is 40-50 years behind the curve, when it comes to public transportation, with the exception of Bangkok. The railway here is sickening. I recently tried public transportation, from Hua Hin to Samui. Took a 5 hour express train from HH to Surat. All good. Except the train was 3.5 hours late between a 2.5 hour delay in arriving, and an additional hour added, on the way. Unacceptable. Then I took a VIP bus back from Samui. Left the pier at 6:45pm. Arrived in HH at 4:00am. Even at 11pm, the traffic was a parking lot, due to the main north south artery for the nation, reduced to one lane, due to road construction. One hour spent going 5 kph. Unacceptable. 

 

It is so much easier, and more efficient to use the rail. Typically, the average person spends at least 3 additional hours with a domestic flight, when you factor in travel to the airport, waiting, security, delays, etc. And time at the destination airport too. Any nation that wants to call itself developed, needs high speed rail. The US being the exception to that rule, as the vision, and will was never there to get it done.

 

45 minutes from BKK to Pattaya? Brilliant. Which airline runs that route? How about Bangkok to Hua Hin, or Chumporn? Right now, it is a nightmare journey by road, unless you leave Bangkok at 5am, which I usually do, to get past the insane road work in Samut Sakorn. How about getting into Bangkok, from the north, or the south, during the day? I have spent three hours just traveling from Saraburi to BKK. Any flights?

 

11 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Please tell. In what way do you think that Thailand will benefit from this 'pretty amazing' train?

China's benefit, direct passage for the PLA into BKK! 

10 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

But, it has to be paid for!

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Thai PM Srettha Thavisin, during their bilateral meeting in Beijing, that the two countries should accelerate construction of the China-Thailand railway and expand cooperation in the digital economy, green development and new energy.

I'm sure he did.. fast track into Thailand and beyond.

I think its a good idea and will work as long as they don't let Chinese people on the trains, then it will be fine. 

Modis operendi.

Tentacles slide in slowly and serriptitiously until they've got you by the b*Alls and squeezing your heart.

I'm glad to see Asia emancipate itself from toxic USA.

13 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

Says you. You provide no details whatsoever. 

1 minute ago, DickyWeedyTuning said:

I'm glad to see Asia emancipate itself from toxic USA.

Yes, the insidious Chinese will be so much better. 

13 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

A load of tosh. Propaganda not needed. The figures speak for themselves. China has done it time and again with many African nations. Eagerly await the place to go bankrupt itself. 

14 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Better connectivity.

For who? The Chinese or Thais?

     No worries.   China will have it's half of the rail line built and up and running in 6 months, while Thailand will, in 6 months, just be announcing, with much fan fair, and likely a catchy acronym, its intention to form an informal committee to study which ministries, and other interested parties, should be named to the formal, official committee to study the matter and report back, at an unspecified future date, to the main decision-making committee, tasked with giving a go or no go to the project.  Such committee also to be named at an unspecified future date, but strictly no later than the turn of the century.  

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It is beyond rational, that Thailand has not done this already. For the movement of cargo, if nothing else. The highways are clogged with trucks of all sizes, due to a lack of planning. And the trains here are quite an embarrassment. Even if you decide to travel by train here on the antique cars, you have to deal with consistent delays of 30 minutes to 3 hours. I gave up using them. 

 

Thailand desperately needs high speed rail, for people and cargo. The lack of planning is an abomination.

 

The rail projects should be accelerated. Thailand is 40-50 years behind the curve, when it comes to public transportation, with the exception of Bangkok. The railway here is sickening. I recently tried public transportation, from Hua Hin to Samui. Took a 5 hour express train from HH to Surat. All good. Except the train was 3.5 hours late between a 2.5 hour delay in arriving, and an additional hour added, on the way. Unacceptable. Then I took a VIP bus back from Samui. Left the pier at 6:45pm. Arrived in HH at 4:00am. Even at 11pm, the traffic was a parking lot, due to the main north south artery for the nation, reduced to one lane, due to road construction. One hour spent going 5 kph. Unacceptable. 

 

It is so much easier, and more efficient to use the rail. Typically, the average person spends at least 3 additional hours with a domestic flight, when you factor in travel to the airport, waiting, security, delays, etc. And time at the destination airport too. Any nation that wants to call itself developed, needs high speed rail. The US being the exception to that rule, as the vision, and will was never there to get it done.

 

45 minutes from BKK to Pattaya? Brilliant. Which airline runs that route? How about Bangkok to Hua Hin, or Chumporn? Right now, it is a nightmare journey by road, unless you leave Bangkok at 5am, which I usually do, to get past the insane road work in Samut Sakorn. How about getting into Bangkok, from the north, or the south, during the day? I have spent three hours just traveling from Saraburi to BKK. Any flights?

 

You are completely right and it has become a nightmare to travel from Bangkok to the south.

12 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

For who? The Chinese or Thais?

For 40 million Chinese tourists of course TAT said.😁

47 minutes ago, Nabby said:

14 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

 

48 minutes ago, Nabby said:

Says you. You provide no details whatsoever. 

Here's another report that paints a very different picture of the affect that the railway (and other projects) have had on Laos. The one not seen through @RabbitFoot's rose coloured spectacles.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66924300

14 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

15 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Please tell. In what way do you think that Thailand will benefit from this 'pretty amazing' train?

 

14 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Better connectivity.

Yes, I think most of us have worked that out. And the benefits?

16 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

It's gonna be great. The train that China build in Laos is pretty amazing. Thailand could greatly benefit.

What would be great right now is if China was  serious  would be to tell Taiwan, were  sorry we  will stop all activity concerning your  nation and will also stop demanding the S China sea.....this would  have incredible repurcussions round the world and bring massive stability and give them some decent credibility, way more than the constant crap they spew out.

14 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

Yes Ive heard its very good for transporting Gravy and Thailand needs more gravy.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the two countries should accelerate construction of the China-Thailand railway

So they can get their troops and tanks down through Thailand quicker.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

and expand cooperation in the digital economy, green development and new energy.

LMAO.......What about the new power stations under construction in China........

Coal power continues to expand in China, despite the government's pledges and goals. In the first half of 2023, construction was started on 37 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power capacity, 52 GW was permitted, while 41 GW of new projects were announced and 8 GW of previously shelved projects were revived

16 hours ago, RabbitFoot said:

Usual western propaganda. Full of resentment.

I've been there. Train is great and is benefiting the country.

Period.

No doubt the train is very pretty Rabbit... but that does not address the debt and overall cost to Laos. If it weren't for all the financial damage to all those African nations, I would be more inclined to write it all off as American propaganda... But then, there are all those African examples aren't there?

"transform advantages of the traditional friendship into a driving force for win-win cooperation"

 

To my knowledge, there is no win-win when dealing with China.

Edited October 21, 20232 yr by Iamloki
Typo