Prayut Discusses Chiang Rai’s Route R3A Project and High Speed Rail Project at APEC Summit

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping

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BEIJING – In a private meeting at the APEC Summit in Beijing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told China’s President Xi Jinping that Thailand is more than ready to cooperate with China to develop the road-transport network that is part of the economic quadrangle linking Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China.

Prayut, arrived in Beijing yesterday to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, met President Xi Jinping and told him that Thailand appreciated China’s strategies in developing the R3A route , which when constructed could become one of the world’s prominent economic routes.

Route R3A is part of the so-called North-South Economic Corridor that will link Thailand with Laos and China. The road route from China’s Kunming will cross the Mekong River at Huay Xai in Laos at the Friendship Bridge and enter Thailand at Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai province.

Prayut also said that Bangkok was ready to cooperate with China in developing the dual-track rail link that would connect Thailand, China and other countries.

Prayut also thanked Beijing for continuously importing Thai agricultural products particularly fruit, jasmine rice, and rubber, the spokesman said. Both leaders agreed to hold further talks in a bid to alleviate problems and obstacles in bilateral trade of agricultural products between the nations.

Beijing was told that Bangkok backed its policy to use of the yuan as a common currency of Asia, the spokesman said, adding China would support business transactions in yuan to decrease currency exchange risks and costs. “They also hope the agreement on the Chinese Yuan and the Thai Baht Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement which will expire next month, could be extended.”

Referring to the education cooperation between the countries, the spokesman said Thailand and China agreed to expand cooperation on science, technology, research and innovation because China had advanced technology and a forum could be held so scientists from both countries could work and study together more closely.

China also wanted to support the development of Thailand’s vocational education.

Prayut also invited his Chinese counterpart to attend the Great Mekong Sub-region Summit to be held in Thailand on December 19-20, 2014.

At the summit, Thailand is expected to push for the development of transport corridors to be considered economic corridors and border special economic zones. It is also expected to raise the human trafficking issue in the region.

Prayut and other leaders kick off the APEC Summit today, during which they are expected to boost trade cooperation between member countries.