High-speed trains for the prosperity of South-East Asia

On the right track: Railway workers posing next to the Fuxing, China’s latest high speed train capable of reaching 400kph during its maiden service from Beijing. — AP

ONE after another, South-East Asian countries are joining hands with China to build high-speed railways. The latest such project is a 688km high-speed railway along the eastern coast of Malaysia, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on Aug 10.

Last week, media reports said China and Thailand will sign a contract on a railway project linking Kunming, capital of Southwestern China’s Yunnan province, and Bangkok during Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-chas official visit to China next month. And work on the project is expected to start in October.