泰國和中國簽署列車投資協議

The long wait for new rail system investments ended on Friday after Thailand and China signed an agreement to build new tracks to fulfill Thailand's ambition to improve its hapless train system.

中國與泰國終於於週五簽訂新的鐵路系統投資協議以建造新的鐵軌來提升泰國的鐵路系統。

The memorandum of understanding was signed at Government House by Transport Minister Prajin Juntong and Xu Shaoshi, chairman of the National Development and Reform Council of China. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

這份諒解備忘錄由交通部長Prajin Juntong和中國發改委主席徐紹史簽訂。與會的還有總理巴育以及中國總理李克強。

It capped a visit by the Chinese premier who is the most prominent world leaderto visit the country since the military seized power on May 22.

自軍隊5月22號掌權以來，中國總理李克強是訪問泰國的領導人中最有權勢的一位。

Mr Xi will also attend the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) summit in Bangkok on Saturday, along with delegates from Thailand, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laosand Myanmar.

習先生也將在週六參加大湄公河次區域峯會，參加此次峯會的代表團包括泰國，中國，越南，柬埔寨，老撾和緬甸。

Under the agreement signed on Friday, China will build the country's first standard-gauge tracks on two routes. The first one will run from Nong Khai province to the Map Ta Phut deep-sea port in Rayong province via Nakhon Ratchasima province and Kaeng Khoi district in Saraburi for 734 kilometres. Asecond 133-kilometre line will run from Kaeng Khoi to Bangkok.

在週五所簽訂的這份協議下，中國將爲泰國的兩條線路首次建造標準軌距的鐵軌。第一條長達734公里，第二條長達133公里。

The project will be carried out on a government-to-government basis with further financial details including the construction cost to be discussed,according to Thai government statement.

這個項目將是政府間的合作，進一步的財務細節包括建造成本還有待討論，泰國政府的聲明中說。

The lines will consist of 1.435-metre tracks that will enable trains to run at speeds up to 180 kilometres per hour, and can accommodate high-speed trains up to 250km/h inthe future. The State Railway of Thailand currently uses the 1-metre gaugesystem.

這些線路的軌距是1.435米，能讓列車以180公里的時速運行，未來還能適應時速達250公里的高鐵。泰國國家鐵路局目前使用的是1米軌距的系統。

The Xinhua news agency on Thursday estimated the construction cost at US$10.6 billion (350 billion baht).

週四，新華社估計建造成本可達106億美元（3500億泰銖）。

Construction could start in 2016 and be completed in 2022, according to the agreement.

建造可能於2016年開始，並於2022年結束，協議中規定。

The two countries agreed that preparation should start as soon as possible. ACMPrajin said early this month that it could begin in February.

兩個國家同意前期的準備工作應該儘早開始，可能於2月份開始。

Gen Prayut has said that the new system will be built for normal trains only but did not rule out a plan to bring high-speed trains to Thailand in the future.

巴育將軍說新的鐵路系統是爲常規列車製造的，但是並不排除未來將高鐵帶到泰國。

The train project is in line with plans to improve its rail transport and the country's ambition to be the transport hub linking Southeast Asia with China.

這個計劃是爲了提高泰國的鐵路交通，以及讓泰國成爲連接東南亞和中國的交通樞紐。

China plans to build another line from its southern border to Vientiane in Laos which will connect to the Thai line in Nong Khai

中國計劃建造另外一條鐵路從中國南方到老撾的萬象，這條線路將與廊開府的泰國線路相連。

The train deal will foster economic growth between China and Southeast Asia,Yang Yong of the China Railway Corporation told Xinhua.

這個鐵路協議將促進東南亞和中國的經濟增長，中國鐵路公司的楊勇對新華社說。

Gen Prayut will visit China on Monday and Tuesday. While there, he plans totake a high-speed train ride from Beijing to Tianjin, said government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said.

巴育將軍將於週一和週二訪問中國。他計劃坐高鐵從北京到天津，泰國政府發言人說。

The two countries also signed another agreement on agriculture under which China would buy more farm products from Thailand. Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya signed the deal on behalf of Thailand.

兩國還簽訂了一個農業協議，中國將從泰國進口更多的農產品。商業部長Chatchai Sarikulya代表泰國簽署了這個協議。

Gen Prayut said before meeting with Mr Li that China would buy 2 million tonnes of Thai rice but did not specify the timeframe of the purchase.

巴育將軍在與李克強會面前稱中國將從泰國購買200萬噸的大米，但是並沒有具體說明購買的時間表。