Bangkok (VNA) – The Transport Ministry ofThailand is cooperating with its Malaysian partner to develop a high-speed railwaysystem connecting four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to local media, Chayatan Phromsorn, permanent secretary fortransport, has had a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Isham Ishak andcompanies from the neighbouring country to discuss ways of cooperating to builda railway system linking the two countries.

Malaysia earlier requested a high-speed rail connection withThailand as a transit point to link up with Laos and China.

Both sides have exchanged information on the project andMalaysia agreed with the idea of Thailand forming a joint working panel todiscuss such a railway system connecting China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, andSingapore.

The panel has been instructed to have a plan in place by thetime ASEAN next meets to discuss transportation issues.

The Malaysian officials arrived after Transport MinisterSaksayam Chidchob issued an order to follow up on the Feburary 25 talks betweenPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail on theissue.

Minister Saksayam recently said that the Thai Ministry of Transport is developinga high-speed railway in the south to connect the five countries.

As scheduled, authorities of some ministries of Thailand will visit Vientianelater this month to discuss the extension of the China-Lao railway to Thailand.Negotiations will take place from August 30 to September 1, focusing on theconnection of Vientiane of Laos and Nong Khai of Thailand./.