by Salai Pi Pi
Tuesday, 01 September 2009 19:56
New Delhi (Mizzima) - China and Burma on Monday publicly celebrated Beijing’s latest gift of material and equipment as part of a vast railroad assistance plan to assist Naypyitaw in extending its rail network to the Sino-Burma border.
In sum, the package includes five locomotives, 20 passenger coaches and 200 freight coaches, according to Burma’s state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar on Tuesday.
The daily newspaper added that the coaches will be used to upgrade aging equipment currently servicing routes out of both Rangoon and Mandalay.
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Sino-Burma border-based observer, said he doubted whether Beijing would witness any tangible gift in exchange.
At present, over 60 Chinese firms are involved in more than 200 projects in Burma – including in the oil and gas, hydro-electric and mining sectors – according to a report by US-based Earth Rights International.
Originally, the locomotives were presented to Burmese Prime Minister General Thein Sein while attending the China-ASEAN Economic and Investment Summit in Nanking in October 2008.
The grant follows on the heels of a similar initiative in 2006, involving over 130 passenger rail coaches.
This week’s function was overseen by Chen Juemin, Director-General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Railways of the People’s Republic of China, and Burma’s Rail Transportation Minister, Major General Aung Min.
Currently, Burma’s rail network comprises 6,942 kilometers.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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