Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Thailand and China launch a $10 billion high-speed railway project to enhance regional connectivity, boosting economic growth with a 357-kilometer route by 2031.
On February 4, the Thai Cabinet approved a cooperation project with China to develop a high-speed railway connecting Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, with a budget of approximately $10 billion. Construction of the 357-kilometer railway is set to begin this year, with an expected operational start in 2031.
Many stakeholders agree that the Thai government must accelerate the construction of the high-speed railway to drive economic and social development in Thailand, China, and the broader ASEAN region.
Thailand’s strengths lie in its tourism, food production, and logistics industries. To enhance these advantages, Thailand aims to collaborate with China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI aims to foster people-to-people exchanges, promote deep cultural dialogues, and establish a network of cities along both the overland and maritime Silk Road routes.
In recent years, Minister Anek Laothamatas has championed research into the Suvarnabhumi civilization, which has uncovered significant historical evidence, tracing the region’s trade history back 2,000 to 2,500 years. The southern region of Thailand was once a thriving hub connecting eastern and western trade routes. Artifacts from ancient Greece, Persia, India, and China have been discovered in this area, revealing a rich past of cultural exchange. The Suvarnabhumi civilization, akin to the Silk Road, established trade links between China, India, Persia, Greece, and Rome, fostering connections through maritime trade along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
The shared history of Southeast Asia and China offers an opportunity for the region to capitalize on its past. By highlighting the Suvarnabhumi civilization, ASEAN countries can boost tourism and academic collaboration, while also enhancing cultural exchanges. Promoting this history could attract global tourists, particularly from China, and inspire deeper studies of the region’s rich heritage.
Leveraging the Suvarnabhumi civilization within the Belt and Road framework not only encourages engagement between ASEAN and China, but also strengthens collaboration among ASEAN countries. The shared cultural heritage of the Suvarnabhumi civilization provides a foundation for partnerships in archaeological research and academic exchanges with other regions, such as India and those connected to the Persian Empire.
An initiative to link cities with shared historical ties to the Suvarnabhumi civilization could drive cross-border cultural tourism. For example, the collaboration between Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to secure the Inca Roads as a UNESCO World Heritage Site has set a precedent for regional cooperation in tourism. Similarly, a cultural tourism project along the Suvarnabhumi route could connect ASEAN countries via sea and land. Sea routes could involve cruises along the Maritime Silk Road, starting from South China and stopping at key Suvarnabhumi historical sites along ASEAN coastlines. Land routes could encourage Chinese tourists to explore northeastern and central Thailand via the high-speed rail project, linking to southern regions rich in archaeological sites.
This initiative would introduce a new dimension to the Belt and Road project, emphasizing cultural cooperation alongside economic ties. By fostering tourism and cultural exchange, the project would create a robust network of cities along the Suvarnabhumi route, reinforcing the modern Maritime Silk Road and expanding economic collaboration across the region.
