Tag Archives: Thailand

Commentary: Lancang-Mekong cooperation offers new opportunities

   BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) — The first leaders’ meeting of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism (LMC) in Sanya, China, is expected to provide political guidance and a roadmap for subregional cooperation between China and the five Southeast Asian nations of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The LMC mechanism was initiated in 2014 in accordance with the strong will of the six countries along the river for development and prosperity.

The LMC is a self-initiative of the six countries and is tailored to their specific needs.

Compared with other cooperation mechanisms, the LMC is more practical, more effective and more in line with people’s aspirations.

With the step-by-step implementation of the LMC mechanism, one-day rail travel along the Lancang-Mekong region will become reality as lines of the Pan-Asia Railway network are under construction.

The mechanism will not only facilitate the movement of people and goods between those countries, but also speed up the region’s development as a whole.

Since the LMC mechanism was proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in November 2014, three meetings of senior officials, three meetings of the working teams, as well as a foreign ministers’ meeting have been held to launch the dialogue and cooperation. Agreement has been reached on 78 early-harvest projects covering water resource management, poverty alleviation, public health, infrastructure, personnel exchanges, science and technology.

The LMC mechanism has three pillars — political and security issues, economic affairs and sustainable development, and social affairs and people-to-people exchanges.

With consensus and strong will of the six countries, the LMC mechanism is showing tremendous potential.

Apart from the six countries, the LMC mechanism is also conducive to the strengthening of cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and lend a helping hand to the regional bloc’s integration.

“The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism comes as a natural result of our existing cooperation, and will take full advantage of our geographic proximity, traditional friendship and complementary economies,” Li told the Sanya meeting on Wednesday.

Li said China firmly supports ASEAN’s integration and the LMC will supplement China-ASEAN relations.  Enditem

 

China inks nuclear power partnership deal with Thailand

  GUANGZHOU, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) — China and Thailand reached an agreement Wednesday to cooperate on a nuclear power project in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) announced on Thursday.

According to the agreement, CGN, Guangxi Investment Group Co. Ltd., and Thailand’s Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (RATCH), a subsidiary of the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, will team up to establish a joint venture to develop, construct and operate the second phase of the nuclear power plant in Fangchenggang City.

The project is a pilot site for Hualong One nuclear power technology, the country’s third-generation nuclear reactor design, which was jointly designed by CGN and China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC).

Rum Herabat, chief executive officer of RATCH, said the project has the support of the Thai government. He said he hopes cooperation with China will help Thailand train talent and gain experience in nuclear power development.

The project will also serve as a bridgehead for China’s nuclear power technology to expand in the ASEAN market.  Enditem

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

China, Thailand step up railway, economic cooperation

BANGKOK, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong concluded a visit to Thailand on Sunday, during which he co-chaired a bilateral meeting on economic cooperation, and attended the launching ceremony of a China-Thailand railway project.

During his five-day stay in Thailand, Wang met with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and presented to him a congratulatory message from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the commencement of the China-Thai railway project.

The launch of the railway project, which has been pushed forward by Chinese and Thai leaders, is not only a gift for the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, but also a new landmark for their strategic cooperation, Wang said.

On Thursday, Wang co-chaired the 4th Meeting of the China-Thailand Joint Committee on Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkit Chatusiphithak.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on strengthening the alignment of the two countries’ development strategies, and expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, industrial capacity, infrastructure, tourism, finance, information and communication, as well as space technology.

On Saturday afternoon, the Chinese state councilor attended the launching ceremony of the China-Thailand railway cooperation project with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Jantong in central Thailand’s Ayutthaya province.

The ceremony was held at Chiang Rak Noi Station in Ayutthaya, where the future Operations Control Center of the railway project will be located.

The two countries are collaborating in building Thailand’s first standard-gauge double-track railway line, which uses 1.435-meter standard gauge with trains operating at top speeds of 160-180 kph.

During his visit, Wang also held talks with Thai Deputy Premier Prawit Wongsuwan, attended and addressed the Thai-Chinese Business Forum with Somkit, and inspected the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone, which is located in east Thailand’s Rayong province. Enditem

 Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

China, Thailand ink intergovernmental document on railway project

BANGKOK, Dec. 3 (Greenpost) — China and Thailand signed an intergovernmental framework document on railway cooperation here on Thursday, which serves as an important basis for future efforts to push forward the railway project.

The foundational document for the bilateral cooperation in constructing an 867-kilometer medium-speed railway line in Thailand was signed by Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and deputy head of China’s National Development and Reform Commission Wang Xiaotao.
The signing ceremony was held at the ninth meeting of the Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between the Thailand and China.
According to the document, the railway project, a dual-track line which uses 1.435-meter standard gauge with trains operating at top speeds of 160-180 kph, will be implemented in the form of EPC (engineering, procurement, construction), according to Chinese negotiators.
A joint venture will be set up in charge of part of the investment and railway operation, the statement said, adding the Chinese side will support Thailand in terms of technology licensing and transfer, human resources training, and financing.
A foundation stone laying ceremony for the railway project will be held later this month. Both sides are striving to speed up the process so that construction could start in May next year.
The railway project will significantly enhance connectivity between Thailand and China and boost economic growth in Thailand, especially in its northeastern part, according to the statement.
As an important part of the trans-Asian railway network, the project will potentially reinforce Thailand’s position as a transport hub in the region and inject vitality into the economic development in the southwestern part of China.
In addition to the railway document, a contract was signed by the China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation and the Foreign Trade Department of the Commerce Ministry of Thailand, under which the Chinese enterprise will purchase 1 million tons of newly-harvested rice from Thailand.
China’s Sinochem and the Rubber Authority of Thailand also inked a purchase agreement, under which Thailand will sell 200,000 tons of natural rubber to the Chinese company.
The purchases will help propel the growth of the two countries’ economic and trade ties while further promoting Thailand’s rubber products in China and other major markets, the statement said.  Enditem

Source Xinhua