New Delhi (Mizzima) - China on Monday gifted five railway locomotives and 220 passenger and freight coaches to military ruled Burma to help the country extend its railway network up to the Sino-Burma border.
Burma’s state-run newspaper the New Light of Myanmar said China on Monday handed over the carriages as a gift.
The function was attended by Chen Juemin, Director-General of International Cooperation Department of Ministry of Railways of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Burma’s Rail Transportation Minister Maj-Gen Aung Min.
The gift package included five locomotives, 20 passenger coaches and 200 freight coaches, according to the New Light of Myanmar.
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Sino-Burma border-based observer, said while the coaches could be part of China’s gifts to the Burmese junta, he doubted whether it would be without any return gift for the Chinese.
He did not believe that the carriages are simply a present. There could be other things that the Burmese will give to China.
China and Burma traditionally maintain a good bilateral relationship with China mostly providing protection to the Burmese regime at the international arena including at the United Nations Security Council.
In return, Burmese Generals allow Chinese companies to explore its natural resources including oil and gas. There are currently over 60 Chinese firms involved in more than 200 projects including oil and gas, hydro-electric projects, and mining.
In August, a consortium led by South Korea's Daewoo International revealed a proposal to invest US $ 5.6 billion to develop gas fields in Burma as part of a 30-year natural gas supply deal with China.
Aung Kyaw Zaw, however, said the coaches were possibly given by China with the aim of helping Burma extend its railway network up to the Sino-Burma border.
The locomotives, freight coaches and the passenger coaches are likely to be used for the extended railways, which Burma plans to build from Lashio to Muse, the border town opposite China’s Ruili, he added.
“China is also planning to extend its railway network to Ruili from Dali [in Yunnan],” he added.
The locomotives were presented by China to Burmese Prime Minister General Thein Sein during his visit to China to attend the China-ASEAN Economic and Investment Summit in Nanning in October 2008.
The New Light of Myanmar report on Tuesday said the coaches will be used for upgrading the railways and new railway projects for the smooth flow of commodities along Rangoon-Mandalay, Rangoon-Mawlamyine, Mandalay-Myitkyina and Mandalay – Lashio.
China in September 2006 had gifted over 130 passenger rail coaches to Burma. Currently, Burma has 6,942 kms of railway network across the country.
