75.2 billion High-speed Rail exchange for Rice with Thailand. Will China make a profit or a loss?

After a decade of negotiations and challenges, the China-Thailand high-speed rail project, worth nearly 100 billion yuan, is now under construction, marking Thailand's first high-speed rail. The venture encountered numerous obstacles from political upheavals in Thailand to competition from Germany and Japan for the project. However, Thailand resolutely chose China, signing a 75.2 billion yuan deal in 2016. Notably, an innovative "rice-for-high-speed rail" policy was devised to overcome financial issues, exchanging Thailand's excess rice for the construction of the railway. Despite the long and arduous journey, the project cemented China's reputation in global high-speed rail construction and significantly strengthens their "Belt and Road" strategy.

[@jackchiu7560]

Does profit or loss matter? This is a rivalry between China and the U.S. for influence right on the doorstep of the Chinese nation and so China will always help its neighbors no matter what. The superhuman tolerance towards the Philippines is proof enough of China's intention to live in peace with its neighbors. By the way, the West laughed at China for its loss of $4 billion in the construction of the 450-km Haramain High Speed Railway linking Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia but in return China got the goodwill of all Arab countries in this region, not to mention the Saudi acceptance of the RMB for its oil imports from the kingdom. What more can you ask for?

[@barnabusdoyle4930]

These projects were never about making a profit, that isn’t how China looks at things. It’s an investment. That project guarantees China heavy influence in the Middle East, consumers to trade with and is a step towards undermining the US in the Middle East. China’s greatest accomplishment in the Middle East so far has been bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran together.

[@irritatedanglosaxon1705]

True lookup how Phillipines will become an Ukraine of Asia which they weren't a sovereigned country

[@slammerlo510]

Didn't hear US mention in the video. Why drag the west in/

[@tompell3032]

Thailand embraces China and gets investments and infrastructure projects. Phillipines quarrels with China. Instead of negotiating with china to resolve the issue, it and runs to the US for help and gets military bases instead of investments. Phillipines is the poorest country in South Asia, and now you know why.

[@RexRecon]

Thailand did nothing until the China Laos HSR was already completed. Then they are like holy smokes! We need this thing. If Thailand went with China 10 years ago, they'd have a line from Laos to Malaysia by now.

[@Tiaimo]

This comment does not understanding the situation in Thailand back then. The Internal political conflict delayed everything. The last 2 coup 2006 & 2014 drove us backward for almost two decades. Now we are back on track and speed things up. The idea of High Speed rail way had come to the same time we built Airport rail link from Suvannabhumi Airport to the down town BKK in 2006. Thaksin's vision is far beyond you can imagine which even scare those elites in BKK to orchesterate the coup for their power. Because Thais voted for him more than 70% in 2006. His popularity and political shift makes those (you may know who) unsatified. Ordinaty people understand the idea of Thaksin that passing thru his sister as PM. Yingluck campaign for Thailand Vision 2020 to restore HSR and modernize infrastructure also make those eiltes set another coup and accuse her for HSR that later their proxy like Gen. Prayut couldn't resist but continue on their terms instead, not Thaksin rice scheme for HSR. From the external power like US, I'm not sure the role they have at that time. but coup 2006 lead us downward. If not, I'm sure he can help our contry far beyond at the moment. During this window time frame of internal conflicts,it gave opportunity for others country in ASEAN to thrive and develop as well. Another initiative from Thaksin vision that he had learnt from our bitter Tomyumkung financial crisis in 97 is ASIA BOND. It's financial cooperate between asian contires for helping each others if country member has financial issue. This initiative fit for many asian country, especialy China which was not consider to be threat to US at that time. There was no geopolitic issue like the last couple years. Once he'd ousted from the power, nobody push this initiative again but we as Thai remember that crisis really well. One more thing you may not know is his idea about Gastronomy policy. He is the top polic cadet student that got Phd from America. Then become rich business man ... He's partriot enough to challenge himself to be politician in our country which has bad reputations and do nothing for people. Because he familair and understand 3 majors power in this country (Bureaucrat, Business and Politic). Then setup party to run campaign for PM. He luanched campaign for Thai restuarant spead throughout the world. Let the world test our superb foods culture. Sell argriculture products from poor ppl and craft one via OTOP. Once foreighners know and familiar our foods and services, they will come to visit our country and spend money for boosting tourism economy which better and more efficient to spead money to ordinary ppl than government. Once ppl got money they will invest more in other economic sectors that set up for SME and so on. This effect will creat economic activities from both directions in vertical and inside out horizontal. And expand domestic consumtions and GDP plus got surplus foreign money for reseve in case of crisis like '97, to avoid blood sucker from financial giant in the west which was collape in '08 hamburger crisis later on. Talk about HSR in Laos, that's their decision but we approach it in other way. 1. Set up domestic fund for infrastructure project to avoid loan from China which would cause difficulty in negotiation and internal issue. 2. Lean to built by transferring some tech from our generous partner like China while japan refuse to comply it. So knowledge is a key. 3. Once we know how to built, we can built it for our own needed like the current BTS and MRT expansion master plant M-MAP2. Furthermore, Thai companies can get portfolio from local projects for their references. This will gain trust when they go to help other countries project like sky-train in Bangaladesh. This knowledge also help us improve relationship between two countries. Lately, we just got more agreement with Bangaladesh for developing in many areas together. It's the same like we help Cambodia improve their rail system by giving free tracks and railway sleepers including renovate diesel trains for free. Or giving low interested rate long term loan for Laos to improve R12 roads in Laos lately and many things previously. Finally, everything comes at a cost but we consider it at our terms that suit our country. Sure we want it faster but experience need time. Hope my explanations can cope the far-fetched comment above. Cheers !!!

[@vanveakrin276]

Thai will operate their High Speed train in 2028

[@dannyboy8850]

Thailand made the right decision to contract China for the railway build project. 👍👍👍

[@yu-jd5jg]

That is what China calls Win-Win Trade and Mutual Respect

[@dyrectory_com]

It's more than rice.... continued peace, cooperation, friendship, etc is priceless. 🦉☯

[@liaojohnweechun7454]

Great Job China 🇨🇳 🥰

[@tompell3032]

While China is busily building infrastuctures around the globe, the US is preoccupied with building military bases - also - around the globe. I betcha that in a decade or two, those places with the infrastructures will be economically more advanced than those with US military bases.

[@ciarankelly4338]

I am European but seems to make sense to me that Asian country would have advantage to get this project in another Asian country and it’s linking them together for transport and mutual relations!

[@jasonlah88]

Good for Asia 👍👍👍👍💪💪💪

[@LeeSkJohn-sv8wi]

While philipines will be busy building USA bases and buying weapons for their resources😂.

[@mtlauj8038]

Philipines will forever be slave pawn for U.S. A PH will forever be a country apparatus that dominant under colonialism.

[@kennos]

Do they even have the money to buy?

[@chongkt6469]

Unlike the West, not everything is equated to profit and loss. Sometimes it is matter of a "win win". The Thais needs decent infrastructure to facilitate development while the Chinese needs a consistent food supply for its population of 1.4 billion.

[@barnabusdoyle4930]

Westerns seem to have forgotten what making an investment looks like. That is why the west in a falling empire

[@Tiaimo]

That's the idea of Thaksin who used to be business man and understand the needed from both sides. But some elites in BKK didn't understand him. See him as a threat for their power. So our country lost almost 2 decades of prosperity. It's frustate me everytime when I look it back.

[@mancheung1483]

True co operation!!

[@kcl2050]

With bartering of rice and high rail.Thailand was wavering in it's decision for this project with China which is for their own benefits.Politics are more important than the benfits derived for economic and for the people.

[@Tiaimo]

I have to respect your accurate info that express in constructive ways from the past until now. You really did your home works. We're back on track after lost for almost 2 decades. Cheers.

[@teatree6228]

Good idea Barter trade

[@harrisng3041]

👍Yours is a great video presented in a very balance view. Thailand , China and Japan will say thank you to you. ... Harri 👍🇨🇳. 👌🇯🇵 🌹THAILAND 🌹 Thailand , a land of Peaceful Rice Growers

[@MSDGroup-ez6zk]

why was the transaction in USD not in Thai Bhat or China Yuan? If more and more people in the world use less USd, USD will loss its values and the USA will not have money to export wars in all parts of the world.

[@davidchung4691]

If only Thailand can put their Political System in the right tract and more unity between their Political Parties. Thailand can become much stronger and advanced among the Southeast Asian Countries！God Bless Thailand.🙏🏼

[@diounelomo]

if the Philippines had chosen China as a friend and accepted Chinese sovereignty over certain strategic islets in the China Sea, the Chinese would have given them gifts in the form of infrastructure 100 times what they would have lost in maritime resources

[@donkeykong516]

That's a hell a lot of rice there

[@ePALPAL]

Modern day barter trade. US dollar not invovled at all.👋👋👋👋

[@Brightly1122]

Thailand bullied germany & japan ??? It must the the other way round !

[@lawrenceli6717]

I am confused by this documentary; the content and facture matters are not sorting out properly before editing and some dates of events were repeated in the middle. What I mostly want to find out that is the expected time of completion, or the latest progression of the speed-rail project is not available. This is a disappointing experience in comparison with other channel's coverage in China's news.

[@lnbt1]

and on some videos, i see a bunch of Indians signing contracts, not chineses!

[@sepam82]

It will be very much more valuable to have the HSR linking these countries because the increase in economy of all the Asian and European people will help their wellness

[@jimmylam1486]

There is an obvious contradiction. Chiang Mai - Bangkok is longer than Nong Khai - Bangkok. Why is the cost 10 times less? Also, everything is still under negotiatio, China has not got any contract yet!!!

[@Rod-bp8ow]

Sales realization, expense realization and reconciliation matters. Inventories assets supplies are at reconciled standards from GDP preservation and maintenance, excellent standards of operation known amongst Investors and Investments.

[@peterlim3189]

😊Hope it works! 😊😊😊

[@Germany._.Kit77]

That is scary 😢

[@tangalexander8877]

Asean and china good co operation but except Philippines. But is ok let them be. As long as they happy.

[@user-nm1nu1du4n]

Don’t the Thai people know that we America buy rice from Thailand? Hundreds and thousands of rice

[@jacintochua6885]

China will assist, bit not at a loss.

[@vanveakrin276]

This is an old Chinese High Speed train technology..so Chinese is giving Free to Thailand the Chinese High Speed train technology... because Chinese is starting to change for the Chinese Nitrogen Maglev train technology inside China...

[@khunchai43]

High speed train is a money losing project for sure. Cargo train make more sense and much much cheaper.

[@mitteran]

the ony investment usa can give any country are miitary bases

[@jchanmcse]

and debts too

[@RuohongZhao]

他信。。。。😅

[@tktk_green9332]

Very wrong information

[@Bebraveonce]

Fake

[@chaz4609]

Jai HInd. India has just launched its 180 kph bullet trains. Jai Hind. India BBBW

[@rogerfaint499]

In China, 180 kph trains are known as snail trains while its high-speed trains operate at 400 kph.

[@blang7017]

😂😂😂😂

[@darth.severu5]

People still sitting on the roof?

[@RoseRose-gk6ku]

You should look at the Indonesia & Laos 🚅.

[@sihksahmir5635]

for a country that wants to challenge China 180 kph is already enormous

[@kimpark283]

Rice is not cheap, is the main food source in Asia,, and the large amount involved was a significant offer in this trade (also, thai rice is internationally recognized as being of hi quality). Both countries benefitted without any serious imbalance. This was a good example of pragmatism.

[@aj93953]

Sorey sir i am rejecting all people channels from the west.... we have so many people who give very accurate information on RUSSIA AND CHINA..... The war mapers, CHINA RUSSIA development.... travel industry, and everything...... We don't need the west anymore for anything....