China-Thailand railway project kicks off

A sand model of the China-Thailand railway is on display at the launching ceremony held on Dec 19, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The executive said the China-Thailand railway will be connected to the China-Laos railway, which would help promote exchanges and cooperation among the ASEAN members in trade, investment, logistics, tourism, science and technology, and culture.

The railway would also help improve transportation infrastructure, create jobs, and improve people's living standards in Thailand.

Thailand-China cooperation in railway development will help Thailand make better use of its geographic advantages as a land transportation hub, and boost its economic growth, Governor of State Railways of Thailand Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said at the launching ceremony.

On Dec. 19, 2014, Thailand and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on railway cooperation under the Strategic Framework for Development of Thailand's Transportation Infrastructure 2015-2022.

Over the past year, the Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between Thailand and China has held nine rounds of talks and reached broad consensus for the two sides.