Indonesian govt wants Japan to join China-backed high-speed rail project

KCIC staff members survey the inside of a tunnel for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. The Indonesian Government said on Sunday (May 31) that it may include Japan into the high-profile project which is currently led by an Indonesian-China Consortium. - Jakarta Post/Asian News Network

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Government on Sunday (May 31) is considering including Japan in Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), an Indonesia-China consortium to develop the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, as Indonesia seeks to expedite and expand the national strategic project, a senior minister has said.

Japan, which was outbid by China for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project, is currently working with the Indonesian government to develop a medium-speed line to connect Jakarta and Surabaya, East Java.