Hong Kong’s rail operator MTR Corporation “is interested in partnering with China Railway” to bid for the 350-km rail project linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, chairman of MTR, Frederick Ma Si-hang, said. MTR insiders said the company would “provide any assistance” to the Chinese rail giant’s potential bid for the multi-billion-dollar rail line.
If the bid is successful, the project would be MTR’s first attempt to capitalize on China’s global trade and commerce strategy. It would also be MTR’s first investment under the umbrella of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. MTR Corp and China Railway Corp signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation last December, paving the way for future partnership in more than 60 countries along the Belt and Road route.
The tender for the rail project is due at the end of this year, with completion expected in 2026. Once completed, the transport time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will be shortened to just 90 minutes. It will be the first high-speed rail project in Southeast Asia, and companies from China, Japan, South Korea and Eastern Europe are all vying for the contract.
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