Thailand, Japan sign agreement on railway development

The Thai Ministry of Transport is set to sign the memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on railway development projects with Japan on May 27 after approval was granted by the Cabinet.
The Thai Ministry of Transport is set to sign the memorandum ofcooperation (MOC) on railway development projects with Japan on May 27after approval was granted by the Cabinet.

Transport MinisterACM Prajin Juntong revealed that the May 26 Cabinet meeting gave thegreen light to the draft MOC between Thailand and Japan in relation totheir joint development of new rail systems in the Kingdom. The officialsigning of the MOC between the Thai and Japanese governments will takeplace tomorrow in Japan.

The agreement applies to three railroutes, namely the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route which is part of thehigh-speed rail system, the Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Laem Chabang Portroute, and the Mae Sot-Mukdahan route for which Japan will contributesupport in the survey process.-VNA

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