A Research On The Cooperation Of High-Speed Railway Between Thailand And China And Its Impacts

The main purpose of this research was to study the cooperation of China and Thailand high-speed railway project.This project is a part of China's promoting “One Belt One Road”(OBOR)strategy and also a part of the infrastructure development planned in the China-Indochina Peninsula Corridor.This project is intended to connect Bangkok's railway to China's high-speed railway,thus it received high expectation from the government of two countries.The relevant departments of the two countries have entered into deep consultations and reached a consensus in 2014.According to the current plan,Thailand will fund the project,while China will provide engineers and other related technical support.China and Thailand have had a long-term friendly relationship.Cooperation of both countries in high speed railway project has been driven by several factors.For example,sharing a mutual benefit in increasing regional economic development and financial benefits,include promoting bilateral trade development,reducing transit time and transportation cost etc.However,the cooperation on this project has been encountered many difficulties and challenges.Some Thai citizens oppose this because the of high-speed rail will bring damage to the local environment.The large investment will also increase the financial burden and affect public welfare and so on.Despite opposition or suspicion of this,the project finally signed as expected.It is believed that the implementation of this project will benefit personnel exchanges in the region as well as trade in goods,inject vitality into the economic development of Thailand and the region,and add new positive factors to the development of China-Thailand relations.