Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong joined Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to officially launch Malaysia's largest ever infra-structure project on Wednesday.  As Rian Maelzer reports, the $13 billion dollar "East Coast Rail line" ties in with other Chinese projects in South East Asia.

 

It was a symbolic ground-breaking but real work is already set to begin on 688-kilometre long East Coast Rail Link. The 13 billion dollar project will span the Malayan peninsula, stretching from its big West Coast ports, through the capital Kaula Lumpur to the east coast and north to the border with Thailand. China is financing the project with soft loans, and the China Communications Construction Company will be the lead contractor.

 

WANG YONG CHINA STATE COUNCILOR  This is a landmark project for China and Malaysia to strengthen synergies and strategic links, and to jointly build the Belt and Road. Thanks to the care and involvement of our leaders, the teams from both countries are able to enjoy productive cooperation." China already has significant projects on Malaysia's east coast. Most notable are a joint venture to expand this port into a deepwater terminal. And the Malaysia-China Industrial Park, where China's Alliance Steel is building a vast steel plant set to start production later this year.

 

RIAN MAELZER PAHANG, MALAYSIA "The East Coast is the heartland of the ethnic Malays, who form a critical support base for the ruling coaltion. It is also the least developed region of Peninsular Malaysia with some of highest levels of entrenched poverty." Malaysia's prime minister calls the rail project a "game changer" for the East Coast states.

 

NAJIB RAZAK PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA  "It will be a catalyst for economic equality between the west coast and east coast as it will stimulate investments, spur commercial activities, create more jobs, facilitate quality education and boost tourism." China is already deeply involved in Malaysia's rail sector, undertaking double tracking and electrification work, and assembling trains here. The East Coast Rail Link is expected to be completed within seven years. Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Kuantan, Malaysia.