SUBIR BHAUMIK |
KOLKATA’s new Chinese consul Zha Liyou says a bullet train connecting Kolkata and Kunming through Myanmar and Bangladesh may not happen immediately but is “definitely possible” in not–too–distant future.
“Cooperation between India and China is growing fast. Our leaders have decided to take BCIM (Bangladesh China India Myanmar) grouping forward. Kolkata and Kunming have been declared sister cities, so there is no reason why they cannot be connected with a bullet train in future,” Zha Liyou told the Kolkata media recently.
■ Chinese Consul General Zha Liyou meeting Mayor of Siliguri Asok Bhattacharya, at his residence, on 30 January | Chinese Consulate
The idea was first broached by his predecessor Ma Jhanwu in September last year.
He had said that if the bullet train service can be started between the two cities, it would take as much time as flights that connect Kolkata and Kunming now.
#China Plans #Kolkata — #Kunming #bullettrainhttps://t.co/kdotOu0Q99 pic.twitter.com/bnco2wxdDR
— LOOKEAST (@lookeast_in) September 13, 2018
“Most talked about is the bullet train from Kunming to Kolkata and from Kolkata to Kunming. Maybe in the coming decade, it will just take two hours from Kolkata via Dhaka and Myanmar to Kunming,” Ma Jhanwu had said in September in the backdrop of the Modi–Xi summit diplomacy after the military stand–off at Doklam.
Most talked about is the bullet train from Kunming to Kolkata and from Kolkata to Kunming. Maybe in the coming decade, it will just take two hours from Kolkata via Dhaka and Myanmar to Kunming, — Ma Jhanwu had said in September in the backdrop of the Modi–Xi summit diplomacy after the military stand–off at Doklam
He said the service will give a thrust to trade and commerce in the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) corridor.
Zha Liyou has avoided responding to media queries on the border issues like Doklam, saying his colleagues in the Chinese embassy in Delhi should be contacted for such responses.
“My job is to boost sub–national cooperation between eastern Indian states and Chinese border provinces like Yunnan. Provincial leaders must meet often to do improve business and cultural ties and I am keen to facilitate them,” Zha Liyou said. ■
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