Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Gombak integrated terminal station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 19, 2024. /Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Gombak integrated terminal station with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday.
Li first expressed appreciation to the hardworking builders from both sides. He said that the ECRL is a flagship project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, and he is confident that, with the efforts of both sides, the construction of the project will be high-quality, efficient, safe and reliable, making the railway a model of excellence, and a fine example of Belt and Road cooperation.
Li noted that the ECRL will not only serve as a transportation artery in Malaysia, but will also play an important role in promoting development, creating employment and improving people's livelihood.
China is ready to work with Malaysia to make the ECRL a path to prosperity and happiness that truly delivers for the people, said Li.
He added that China is also ready to work actively with Malaysia to explore ways to link the ECRL with the China-Laos and China-Thailand railways, promote greater progress in the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and make greater contributions to enhancing regional connectivity and deepen the development of the ASEAN community.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang (L) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim push a lever to officially kick off the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Gombak integrated terminal station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 19, 2024. /Xinhua
For his part, Anwar said the ECRL project, which connects the east and west coasts of Malaysia, is of great significance to promoting Malaysia's economic and social development.
He thanked Chinese and Malaysian companies for their cooperation in advancing this important project, and voiced confidence that with the efforts of both sides and on the strength of "China speed" and advanced technology, the ECRL will be completed as soon as possible, injecting strong impetus into the development of Malaysia and regional countries.
The two leaders pushed the lever to officially kick off the construction of the Gombak station.
The Malaysia ECRL stretches 665 kilometers, starting from Kota Bharu in the north, and heading south to Kuantan before turning westward to Port Klang. It is the largest standalone transportation infrastructure project undertaken by Chinese enterprises overseas.
（With input from Xinhua)