China plans Kolkata-Kunming bullet train link via Bangladesh

International Desk: China is planning a bullet train service to run from Kunming to Kolkata. The rail link will run through Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu disclosed this on Wednesday at a conference in Kolkata. He stated that with the India and China’s joint efforts, a high-speed rail link could be established between the two cities.

He added that it will only take a few hours to reach Kolkata from Kunming if the rail link becomes a reality, reports NDTV.

The envoy also said that Myanmar and Bangladesh will benefit from the project.

Pointing out that both countries could have a cluster of industries along the route, he mentioned that the proposed rail-link increases the possibility for the economic development of the countries along the 2,800 km-long proposed link.

The Chinese envoy stated that the project was also mentioned at the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) meeting in Kunming in 2015.

The rail route was aimed at boosting trade flow in the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor, Zhanwu said, adding that his country is striving to revive the Silk Road to increase connectivity between Kunming and Kolkata.

Clearly stating that the much-vaunted Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not a scheme designed by China to conquer the world or its neighbourhood, Zhanwu said the project is all about shared benefits and development through consultation and discussions.

Source: Agencies
 

risingbd/Dhaka/September 13, 2018/A K Azad