Thailand, China hold talks on estate project
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-09-24 13:55

Representatives from China's Yunnan Province on Friday is holding talks with local officials of Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province on a joint industrial estate project in the region.

The meeting is being conducted by the 46-member Chinese delegation, Chiang Rai governor Narin Panichkij, representatives of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the Board of Investment (BoI), Thai deputy provincial governor Sriprom Homyok was quoted by the Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.

The talks are expected to reach a conclusion on whether a 3,000-rai land plot in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district will be the project site. Details on what business will be started and related investment terms will also be covered at the meeting.

The land plot, about 10 km from the Mekong river, has been considered suitable for the project by a panel in charge of the project studying, said IEAT governor Anchalee Chaovanit.

The panel also suggested Thailand carry out environmental and social impact assessment study in one month, and China study techniques, marketing and regulations in the next six months before deciding.

Earlier, a consensus has been reached among related Thai parties that the industrial estate project is to be bolstered by a second Chiang Saen port project, the construction of a hydroelectric dam in China to be completed in two years, and a proposed project to build a Den Chai-Chiang Rai railway line, which is to connect with a China-Laos rail line in nine years.

With the aim to promote Sino-Thai trade and investment, the project is expected to benefit Thailand's service, food and transport sectors and help enhance Gino-Thai cooperation in the fields of cultural exchange, tourism and education.

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