China asked to push for Thailand-Laos-China electric high-speed train project

BANGKOK, May 9 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked China to push for a Thailand-Laos-China high-speed train project to support the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. Yingluck made the request on Thursday during her meeting with the visiting Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former chief executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region, Edmund Ho. The Thai prime minister acknowledged that the Chinese government is supporting transport networking between China and the Associatiion of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and she hopes Ho will further advocate cooperation between Bangkok and Beijing and will help promote bilateral relations in the trade, investment and service sectors. Ho, in turn, said the Chinese government is pleased that Thailand and China have developed their comprehensive strategic partnership and mentioned Thailand’s roles as a coordinator between the 10-nation ASEAN bloc and China. Ho also expressed his support for transport networking between ASEAN and southern China, as it would boost economic growth, trade, investment and relations among people in ASEAN and China. The visiting senior Chinese official also invited the Thai prime minister to deliver her speech at the opening of the 2nd Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macau in September 2013. (TNA)