Thailand, China sign two MOUs

BANGKOK, December 20 (TNA) - China and Thailand have signed two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on China's construction of first dual railway lines for high-speed trains in the Thai Kingdom and purchase of Thai agricultural products. The MOUs were signed in Bangkok on Friday, witnessed by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who is in the Thai capital to attend the 5th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit from December 19-20. Under the agreements, Thailand’s dual rail lines, to be constructed by China, will be connected with those built from China, through Laos and Vietnam, to help facilitate and boost goods transportation and the number of tourists in the region in the future. General Prayut said Thailand is prepared to cooperate with China in developing transportation networks on road, rail and marine within the GMS, noting that the development of a cross-border land route connecting Bangkok with Kunming in southwestern China is underway and it should also help facilitate and boost transportation of goods and tourists. Prime Minister General Prayut stressed that Thailand realises the importance of transportation development between countries so that it can be turned into an economic corridor and Thailand is now preparing to set up special economic zones along its borders connecting with neighbouring countries. The visiting Chinese premier hailed the rail accord as a starting point to lead to further rail development, linking China with Laos and Thailand. The Chinese premier also confirmed that China will buy more agricultural products from Thailand, especially rice and rubber, and Beijing is ready to cooperate with Bangkok in development plans in the GMS in all fields. The Thai premier, meanwhile, proposed that a joint Thai-Chinese committee on both rail development and cooperation on agricultural products be set up, and that the committee hold its first meeting early next year. (TNA)