Thai's Prayuth Asks For Favourable Interest Rate On Loan For Thai-China Railway Project

BANGKOK, March 24 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha has asked China to consider a favourable interest rate on a loan for the first phase of the Bangkok-Kaengkoi-Nakhon Ratchasima rail line construction. Deputy government spokesman Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said the request was made by the prime minister during his bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Wednesday. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation meeting in Sanya, China. During the meeting, Gen. Prayuth affirmed that the railway project between Thailand and China had to be continued as it marked a cooperation between both governments, Weerachon said in a statement here, Wednesday. Weerachon said the prime minister asserted that Thailand would take the loan provided by Beijing for the joint railway project, but it wanted Bangkok to be given a favourable interest rate. Both leaders also discussed economic cooperation in trade, investment and tourism, with Prayuth expressing his desire to see a closer economic cooperation with China. Prayuth also wanted to increase Thai export of rice and rubber to China, he said. --BERNAMA