China-Thailand rail deal will also benefit region

There's no gain without pain, as the saying goes, and that's certainly been true of the China-Thailand high-speed railway, which has found its way strewn with obstacles before the first phase finally got the green light to go ahead on Tuesday.

After years of delay, Thailand's Cabinet finally approved $5.2 billion in funds to build a 252-kilometer railway that will cut the travel time between the Thai capital and its northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima from the nearly six hours it takes now to less than one and a half hours when it is completed in 2021.

According to the deal, Thai companies will be responsible for construction of the railway, due to start in September, while Chinese enterprises will design it, advise on its construction and provide technology and technical training, among other things.