LOOKEAST REPORT |
CHINESE Consul General in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu said his country was mooting a bullet train service between Kunming and Kolkata, traversing through Myanmar and Bangladesh.
With joint efforts of India and China, a high–speed rail link could be established between the two cities, Mr Zhanwu said at a conference here.
■ Ma Zhanwu
While elaborating on the Kunming–Kolkata high–speed rail link, Ma Zhanwu said that the two neighbouring countries, Myanmar and Bangladesh would also benefit from the project.
Ma Zhanwu informed that the route of this high–speed rail link was aimed at boosting trade flow in the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) corridor. He also said that his country has been striving for the revival of the Silk Route in a bid to increase the connectivity from Kunming to Kolkata
He further said that a cluster of industries can also come up along the route. It will increase the possibility of economic development of countries involved in the Kunming–Kolkata high–speed rail link project, which is 2,800 km long.
Chinese Consul–General Ma Zhanwu also said that the high–speed rail link project was also mentioned at the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) meet in Kunming, in the year 2015. Ma Zhanwu informed that the route of this high–speed rail link was aimed at boosting trade flow in the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) corridor. He also said that his country has been striving for the revival of the Silk Route in a bid to increase the connectivity from Kunming to Kolkata.
While mentioning that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not a scheme designed by his country to conquer the rest of the world or its neighbouring countries, the Chinese diplomat added that the Kunming–Kolkata high–speed rail link project is all about “shared benefits and development” through consultations and discussions. Zhanwu added that China has been striving for revival of the Silk Route. This, he said, would increase connectivity from Kunming to Kolkata.
“It will only take a few hours to reach Kolkata from Kunming if the rail link becomes a reality,” he asserted.
“We may have a cluster of industries along the route. That increases the possibility of economic development of countries involved in the 2,800 km–long project,” he maintained. ■
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