Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says he has assured his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, that the land bridge mega project in southern Thailand will not only provide another shipping route, linking the Indian and Pacific oceans, in addition to the Straits of Malacca, but will also provide an ideal location for Chinese investors to establish factories producing goods for distribution to many other countries.
He said Thailand’s land bridge project will complement China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is supported by the Thai government, adding that his visit to Beijing to attend the international forum on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is successful and is giving him confidence that, with the implementation of the land bridge and investment in more electric vehicle assembly plants by Chinese investors, among other industries, Thailand’s economic development will be given a big shot in the arm.
The land bridge will link Chumphon province, on the Gulf of Thailand coast, with Ranong province, on the Andaman Sea coast, with a road and rail system for the transport of goods between the ports on each coast. This will shorten the distance for cargo currently using the Straits of Malacca and save about four transit days.
The prime minister also said he discussed bilateral trade in agricultural products between Thailand and China. He also proposed that China set up a screening facility for cattle to be exported from Thailand in China, instead of relying on the one in Laos, to facilitate the export process by land through Laos or also directly to China by sea.
The prime minister said he felt a close connection with his Chinese counterpart, after the latter gave him his personal phone number to aid in direct communication.
“This a good sign, as our two countries are interdependent, with China regarded as a big brother,” said Srettha, adding that he also proposed that China build another bridge across the Mekong river, linking Thailand’s Nong Khai province with Vientiane in Laos, to facilitate the export of Thai goods to China via Laos and vice versa.
