Thai-China high-speed rail set to boost ASEAN connectivity

[webfact]

 

Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang projected a significant enhancement in the collaboration between Thailand and China upon the conclusion of the anticipated high-speed rail project. The statement came during a seminar addressing the economic ties between the two nations and the Thai-China visa-free agreement, held by the Thai-Chinese Journalists Association recently.

 

The ambassador emphasised that the completion of the Thai-China high-speed rail would bolster Thailand’s connectivity with Laos, China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at large, given Thailand’s strategic location linking to various regions.

 

The Thai-China high-speed rail project, overseen by the Transport Ministry, is projected to be fully operational by 2028. The Nong Khai-Vientiane section is set to be the first completed segment of the rail line. The project committee is especially keen on accelerating the 7.3-kilometre stretch, estimated to cost around US$3 billion. The State Railway of Thailand is conducting a feasibility study on this project.

The final design selection for the project will occur this year, and bidding for the project will commence in 2025. The rail line, extending over 606 kilometres, will link the city of Nong Khai and Bangkok within the Thai section. The high-speed train will eventually expand to connect Laos and China.

Ambassador Han also underscored the potential impact of the transport project and policies such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in opening new opportunities for Thai-China collaboration. The need for discussions to upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) was also stressed, as such an upgrade could amplify cooperation in numerous sectors.

 

The ACFTA, operational since 2004, has gradually reduced import duties. According to the agreement, normal track goods will eventually have a zero final rate, while sensitive track items will receive import duty cuts or exemptions at a later stage.

 

The Foreign Trade Department highlighted the beneficial influence of the ACFTA on Thai exports to China, specifically processed sugar items like syrup, artificial honey, and various sweeteners. Over the last decade, Thailand’s processed sugar exports to China have surged by 145% annually.

 

Ronnarong Phoolpipat, the department’s director-general, acknowledged China as the primary export market for agricultural products, accounting for 42% of total shipments. The high demand products include processed sugars, excluding raw sugar, such as syrup, artificial honey, caramel, and other sweeteners, widely used in food, beverages, and pharmaceutical sectors, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Mitch Connor

TOP: Aerial photo shows a construction site of the China-Thailand railway in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. Picture courtesy of Xinhua

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-25

 

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[Geoffggi]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang projected a significant enhancement in the collaboration between Thailand and China upon the conclusion of the anticipated high-speed rail project.

Roughly translated into "All the better to flood your markets with substandard Chinese goods" .................LOL

[dyertribe]

This is the perfect way for China to quickly move tanks, equipment and troops through South East Asia once they fire the starting gun.

[John Drake]

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

Ronnarong Phoolpipat, the department’s director-general, acknowledged China as the primary export market for agricultural products, accounting for 42% of total shipments. The high demand products include processed sugars, excluding raw sugar, such as syrup, artificial honey, caramel, and other sweeteners, widely used in food, beverages, and pharmaceutical sectors, reported Bangkok Post.

 

 

Now you know who to blame for the all the sugar cane burning and poison air.

[connda]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The project committee is especially keen on accelerating the 7.3-kilometre stretch, estimated to cost around US$3 billion.

$411M USD per kilometer?  That's a whole bunch of rich "brother-in-laws."

Doing an internet search, HSR ranges from $17-30M in China, $24M in France, and $27M in Spain.¹ 
Thailand?  $$$Cha-Ching$$$

Source:

¹ Lowyinstitute.org

[JoePai]

fully operational by 2028 

[JoePai]

31 minutes ago, connda said:

$411M USD per kilometer?  That's a whole bunch of rich "brother-in-laws."

Doing an internet search, HSR ranges from $17-30M in China, $24M in France, and $27M in Spain.¹ 
Thailand?  $$$Cha-Ching$$$

Source:

¹ Lowyinstitute.org

 

31 minutes ago, connda said:

$411M USD per kilometer?  That's a whole bunch of rich "brother-in-laws."

Doing an internet search, HSR ranges from $17-30M in China, $24M in France, and $27M in Spain.¹ 
Thailand?  $$$Cha-Ching$$$

Source:

¹ Lowyinstitute.org

Please don't look at the cost per mile for the UK "effort"   

[connda]

32 minutes ago, JoePai said:

 

Please don't look at the cost per mile for the UK "effort"   

Already have while checking out the other numbers.  $200M/km.  They have a lot of "brother-in-laws" to feed in the UK too it seems.

[Dolf]

I like old trains. Way more charm.

[blazes]

1 hour ago, Dolf said:

I like old trains. Way more charm.

 

On narrow-guage all the speedy way from Bkk to Hua Hin and beyond?

Clickety-click, clickety-clack???

[Peterphuket]

2 hours ago, dyertribe said:

This is the perfect way for China to quickly move tanks, equipment and troops through South East Asia once they fire the starting gun.

That's exactly what I was thinking too, it goes on and on with those chinese, if you just look at how many ports they already own in europe.
And recently it was in the news that the container cranes they supply around the world also have spying capabilities again, sooner or later we are <deleted>.

[royalmice]

"conclusion of the anticipated railway"

 

So they agreed to think about building a railway ????

[Peterphuket]

2 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

That's exactly what I was thinking too, it goes on and on with those chinese, if you just look at how many ports they already own in europe.
And recently it was in the news that the container cranes they supply around the world also have spying capabilities again, sooner or later we are <deleted>.

And also that so-called Silk Road, which would be so good for trade from china far into europe...for transport for their own war materiel they will mean.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang projected a significant enhancement in the collaboration between Thailand and China upon the conclusion of the anticipated high-speed rail project. The statement came during a seminar addressing the economic ties between the two nations and the Thai-China visa-free agreement,

Main-line China straight into your country... Thailand will learn this is not going to end well.

Thailand does not love competition, and this will open the flood gates.

[Spock]

1 hour ago, Dolf said:

I like old trains. Way more charm.

When you look at how the new train in Laos operates like an airline in terms of security screening and the manner in which the road from Vientianne to Luang Prabang has been allowed to deteriorate, you kind of long for the good old days. Not that Laos ever had any such day with a railway.

[Dolf]

Just now, Spock said:

When you look at how the new train in Laos operates like an airline in terms of security screening and the manner in which the road from Vientianne to Luang Prabang has been allowed to deteriorate, you kind of long for the good old days. Not that Laos ever had any such day with a railway.

I watched some vids. Looks way boring. The slow boat option from the Thai border looks better. If i want to go fast i fly.

[zhounan]

It will be good for Chinese businessmen, Thais importers and consumers. But thousands of local SMEs will be erased.

[Chongalulu]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

 

Please don't look at the cost per mile for the UK "effort"   

In such a small overcrowded island costs for railway building are inevitably much higher than larger countries with more open countryside like France etc

Edited March 25 by Chongalulu

[LALes]

Once this project gets going, look for the Kra Canal discussions to be revived for the umpteenth time.  China's main goal is to circumvent US containment on the South China Sea.  Phase One of the plan is the rail line.  Phase Two is the canal that eliminates the need for traffic thru Singapore and a direct outlet to the Indian Ocean.  They will never give up on this plan.

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, Dolf said:

I like old trains. Way more charm.

For a minute I read "old trans".. Still,you might have a point… 😜 

[Dolf]

1 minute ago, Chongalulu said:

For a minute I read "old trans".. Still,you might have a point… 😜 

Whatever you are into

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

fully operational by 2028 

 

Maybe this will be the new section of HST from Vientianne to Nong Khai over a new Mekong Bridge? Linking up with the HST at Korat will be many, many years away.

[Chongalulu]

4 minutes ago, LALes said:

Once this project gets going, look for the Kra Canal discussions to be revived for the umpteenth time.  China's main goal is to circumvent US containment on the South China Sea.  Phase One of the plan is the rail line.  Phase Two is the canal that eliminates the need for traffic thru Singapore and a direct outlet to the Indian Ocean.  They will never give up on this plan.

A single large container ship holds 24000 TEUs. The equivalent capacity would take a 44 mile train. Then there’s the costs of loading and unloading onto a train and back onto a container ship in that link. It’s not a realistic economic alternative especially when taking into account the huge volumes of shipping out of China.

[mfd101]

So the 'High-Speed Train' hasn't even started the first 7.3km? Still scratching their heads and other parts of their anatomy?

 

Sounds more like a slow boat to China.

[eisfeld]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The project committee is especially keen on accelerating the 7.3-kilometre stretch, estimated to cost around US$3 billion

 

Nice. That's 30% more expensive per km than CERN's LHC particle collider.

 

Edited March 25 by eisfeld

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

bolster Thailand’s connectivity with Laos, China,

 

Last month (February) I flew from Siem Reap to meet up with a UK friend who was visiting Chiang Mai. This was prior to him continuing a two week holiday in Laos. I have since received much comment from him regarding Laos, a country he will never return to. Everywhere he went in Vientianne and Luang Prabang, there were masses of arrogant and rude Chinese with bad habits. Worst were his experiences on the HST to Luang Prabang - massed crowds with no manners. Just imagine when the HST is completed to Bangkok with thousands of ill mannered Chinese masses alighting along the way at Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Korat and Bangkok (many trying to set up small businesses?). When I visited Luang Prabang, pre-covid, it was such a beautiful UNESCO ancient capital city on the Mekong with no Chinese HST. My friend's final comment - Laos has been ruined by the Chinese!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, connda said:

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The project committee is especially keen on accelerating the 7.3-kilometre stretch, estimated to cost around US$3 billion.

$411M USD per kilometer

But a good deal for China as it loaned the funds to Thailand at higher than Sovereign interest rate to build the rail line.

[moe666]

What is the interest rate on the loan China made. Did they also get the concessions along the rail line they ask for as well.

[connda]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

fully operational by 2028 

 

23 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Maybe this will be the new section of HST from Vientianne to Nong Khai over a new Mekong Bridge? Linking up with the HST at Korat will be many, many years away.

Let's see...back of a napkin calculations. 
7.2 km in 4 years = ~ 1.8 km / year
Nong Kai to Korat = ~335 km
So therefore Nong Kai to Korat HSR completed in about 186 years.  That's about right

And with inflation, brown envelopes, and cost overruns it will probably cost $100 Quintillion USD - or 5 and a half BTC and be completed in.....  🙄  Well, anyone remember what the post-1997 crash's building projects looked like including the BTS to Ringsit.  There ya go.

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang projected a significant enhancement in the collaboration between Thailand and China upon the conclusion of the anticipated high-speed rail project. The statement came during a seminar addressing the economic ties between the two nations and the Thai-China visa-free agreement, held by the Thai-Chinese Journalists Association recently.

 

The ambassador emphasised that the completion of the Thai-China high-speed rail would bolster Thailand’s connectivity with Laos, China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at large, given Thailand’s strategic location linking to various regions.

 

The Thai-China high-speed rail project, overseen by the Transport Ministry, is projected to be fully operational by 2028. The Nong Khai-Vientiane section is set to be the first completed segment of the rail line. The project committee is especially keen on accelerating the 7.3-kilometre stretch, estimated to cost around US$3 billion. The State Railway of Thailand is conducting a feasibility study on this project.

The final design selection for the project will occur this year, and bidding for the project will commence in 2025. The rail line, extending over 606 kilometres, will link the city of Nong Khai and Bangkok within the Thai section. The high-speed train will eventually expand to connect Laos and China.

Ambassador Han also underscored the potential impact of the transport project and policies such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in opening new opportunities for Thai-China collaboration. The need for discussions to upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) was also stressed, as such an upgrade could amplify cooperation in numerous sectors.

 

The ACFTA, operational since 2004, has gradually reduced import duties. According to the agreement, normal track goods will eventually have a zero final rate, while sensitive track items will receive import duty cuts or exemptions at a later stage.

 

The Foreign Trade Department highlighted the beneficial influence of the ACFTA on Thai exports to China, specifically processed sugar items like syrup, artificial honey, and various sweeteners. Over the last decade, Thailand’s processed sugar exports to China have surged by 145% annually.

 

Ronnarong Phoolpipat, the department’s director-general, acknowledged China as the primary export market for agricultural products, accounting for 42% of total shipments. The high demand products include processed sugars, excluding raw sugar, such as syrup, artificial honey, caramel, and other sweeteners, widely used in food, beverages, and pharmaceutical sectors, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Mitch Connor

TOP: Aerial photo shows a construction site of the China-Thailand railway in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. Picture courtesy of Xinhua

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-25

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

I would love to take a train to Beijing. 👍