China plans high-speed rail to Singapore in 5 years
China's southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region will make building a high-speed rail link from its main city of Nanning to connect to a planned Singapore-bound line its main task in the next five years, the China Daily said.
The construction of the rail link to Pingxiang, a city near China's border with Vietnam, will start in the second half of this year, the paper said, citing the local development and reform commission.
The local government wants a railway network to boost its trade with the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), including Vietnam and Singapore. Asean is the largest trading partner and export market for Guangxi, according to the paper.
Guangxi will invest 15.6 billion yuan (S$3 billion) to build its section of the rail link, the newspaper reported, citing Long Li, a regional transportation official.
The report did not say whether China has reached agreements with the neighbouring countries on the plan.
Thailand's government said that it will build a high-speed rail system linking the country with Laos, Vietnam and southern China, according to a report by the Nation newspaper in August, citing Korbsak Sabhavasu, secretary to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Meanwhile, Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday officiated at the ground-breaking of Chinese-constructed road and bridge projects at Wainibuka in Tailevu Province.
China Railway First Group has been awarded the contract. The ground-breaking celebration is for the start of construction of the Naqia and Balekinaga bridges and a nine km road from the Wailotua to Nayavu stretch in the Kings Road.
The two bridges have been labelled death traps by some drivers passing through the stretch as they shake when vehicles run over, and there are missing planks on it.
The entire project is funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of more than F$22 million (S$15.3 million).
The Waito-Wailotua road work will be completed by the end of this year. Local villagers have expressed appreciation as the road would improve access to market as most of them are farmers and rely on food crops and vegetables sold in markets to sustain them.
The construction of the rail link to Pingxiang, a city near China's border with Vietnam, will start in the second half of this year, the paper said, citing the local development and reform commission.
The local government wants a railway network to boost its trade with the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), including Vietnam and Singapore. Asean is the largest trading partner and export market for Guangxi, according to the paper.
Guangxi will invest 15.6 billion yuan (S$3 billion) to build its section of the rail link, the newspaper reported, citing Long Li, a regional transportation official.
The report did not say whether China has reached agreements with the neighbouring countries on the plan.
Thailand's government said that it will build a high-speed rail system linking the country with Laos, Vietnam and southern China, according to a report by the Nation newspaper in August, citing Korbsak Sabhavasu, secretary to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Meanwhile, Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday officiated at the ground-breaking of Chinese-constructed road and bridge projects at Wainibuka in Tailevu Province.
China Railway First Group has been awarded the contract. The ground-breaking celebration is for the start of construction of the Naqia and Balekinaga bridges and a nine km road from the Wailotua to Nayavu stretch in the Kings Road.
The two bridges have been labelled death traps by some drivers passing through the stretch as they shake when vehicles run over, and there are missing planks on it.
The entire project is funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of more than F$22 million (S$15.3 million).
The Waito-Wailotua road work will be completed by the end of this year. Local villagers have expressed appreciation as the road would improve access to market as most of them are farmers and rely on food crops and vegetables sold in markets to sustain them.