Japan casts shadow on China’s bullet train ambition with India

[illusion8]

Having lost a contract in Mexico that was supposedly in the bag, China is keeping its fingers crossed regarding a possible bullet- train deal with India along the 1,754 kilometre Delhi-Chennai high speed rail corridor.

A commentary on Thursday that appeared in the Global Times, affiliated to the Chinese communist party, apprehended that the Sino-Indian partnership in the high-speed rail domain “has not yet been well-received by the Indian public”.

Besides, it observed that “Japan, which is also eyeing the market and has pledged to offer a more attractive funding scheme, is a serious rival in the sector.”

Yet, notwithstanding its rivalry with Tokyo, the daily was hopeful that in case the first rail project after President Xi Jinping’s September visit to India materialised, it could become a game-changer, yielding “untold dividends for both sides.”

The commentary, which was also carried by the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese government was timed with visit to China by a five-member delegation of India’s High Speed Rail Corporation, led by its chairman, Satish Agnihotri. The delegation is engaged in nailing the “terms of reference” of the feasibility study, which Chinese authorities will undertake to establish a high-speed rail corridor between Delhi and Chennai.

Highly places sources told The Hindu that the finalisation of the study of the Delhi-Chennai corridor does not mean a commitment to award the high-speed rail contract to a Chinese company.

China’s mixed response to the prospect of a deal, which could turn travel time between Delhi and Chennai to around 6 hours, follows its recent debacle in Mexico. On November 3, Mexico’s transport minister, announced that China-the only bidder had won the contract for the 210 kilometre rail link between Mexico City and Queretaro, the upcoming industrial centre to the north. Yet, in an unexpected turn of events, Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto decided "to revoke the November 3 ruling and restart" the bidding process.

The commentary acknowledged that the “global reach of Chinese high-speed rail is still in its nascent stage,” but asserted that China “has become one of the very few countries that owns intellectual property rights for high-speed rail technology, and has achieved this in the space of only a decade”.

Japan casts shadow on China’s bullet train ambition with India - The Hindu

'Delhi-Chennai bullet train to bring untold dividends for India and China' - The Economic Times


It would surely be a "game changer" as the article suggests if indeed China gets the contract. A long term solid contract and that too in such a vital project and a very important infrastructure for India will most likely bring china and India closer.. @Capt.Popeye, @Chinese-Dragon, @OrionHunter, @levina, @SamantK, @timetravel

 

[TimeTraveller]

Good for both countries.....

 

[Levina]

China’s mixed response to the prospect of a deal, which could turn travel time between Delhi and Chennai to around 6 hours, follows its recent debacle in Mexico.

Isnt that awesome??
And yes China has left no stone unturned to bag this as the Chinese officials 've even agreed to shoulder the full cost of the initial study in India.

 

[Echo_419]

Having lost a contract in Mexico that was supposedly in the bag, China is keeping its fingers crossed regarding a possible bullet- train deal with India along the 1,754 kilometre Delhi-Chennai high speed rail corridor.

A commentary on Thursday that appeared in the Global Times, affiliated to the Chinese communist party, apprehended that the Sino-Indian partnership in the high-speed rail domain “has not yet been well-received by the Indian public”.

Besides, it observed that “Japan, which is also eyeing the market and has pledged to offer a more attractive funding scheme, is a serious rival in the sector.”

Yet, notwithstanding its rivalry with Tokyo, the daily was hopeful that in case the first rail project after President Xi Jinping’s September visit to India materialised, it could become a game-changer, yielding “untold dividends for both sides.”

The commentary, which was also carried by the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese government was timed with visit to China by a five-member delegation of India’s High Speed Rail Corporation, led by its chairman, Satish Agnihotri. The delegation is engaged in nailing the “terms of reference” of the feasibility study, which Chinese authorities will undertake to establish a high-speed rail corridor between Delhi and Chennai.

Highly places sources told The Hindu that the finalisation of the study of the Delhi-Chennai corridor does not mean a commitment to award the high-speed rail contract to a Chinese company.

China’s mixed response to the prospect of a deal, which could turn travel time between Delhi and Chennai to around 6 hours, follows its recent debacle in Mexico. On November 3, Mexico’s transport minister, announced that China-the only bidder had won the contract for the 210 kilometre rail link between Mexico City and Queretaro, the upcoming industrial centre to the north. Yet, in an unexpected turn of events, Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto decided "to revoke the November 3 ruling and restart" the bidding process.

The commentary acknowledged that the “global reach of Chinese high-speed rail is still in its nascent stage,” but asserted that China “has become one of the very few countries that owns intellectual property rights for high-speed rail technology, and has achieved this in the space of only a decade”.

Japan casts shadow on China’s bullet train ambition with India - The Hindu

'Delhi-Chennai bullet train to bring untold dividends for India and China' - The Economic Times


It would surely be a "game changer" as the article suggests if indeed China gets the contract. A long term solid contract and that too in such a vital project and a very important infrastructure for India will most likely bring china and India closer.. @Capt.Popeye, @Chinese-Dragon, @OrionHunter, @levina, @SamantK, @timetravel

Trade opportunities btw the 2 countries are endless it is time now that we look to greatly enchanted our relationship with escorted

 

[timetravel]

I say give Chinese a chance to build some routes. See the quality of work. If good and better or equal to Japanese/French quality, then sure give them as much contracts as they win in the bids.

 

[SouthDesi]

I say give Chinese a chance to build some routes. See the quality of work. If good and better or equal to Japanese/French quality, then sure give them as much contracts as they win in the bids.

It could be because, as Japan is already a partner in one of the biggest project( DMIC) and may be tying this one with others.

DMIC :: Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, An Indo-Japan Mega Infrastructure Project

 

[OrionHunter]

It would surely be a "game changer" as the article suggests if indeed China gets the contract. A long term solid contract and that too in such a vital project and a very important infrastructure for India will most likely bring china and India closer..

I think it's the right time to pressurize the Chinese to lower the costs for this project....or else...there's Japan!

 

[Guynextdoor2]

@Chinese-Dragon

Having lost a contract in Mexico that was supposedly in the bag, China is keeping its fingers crossed regarding a possible bullet- train deal with India along the 1,754 kilometre Delhi-Chennai high speed rail corridor.

you were saying something about how mother china is doing the world a favor by selling its trains?

 

[Tshering22]

Isnt that awesome??
And yes China has left no stone unturned to bag this as the Chinese officials 've even agreed to shoulder the full cost of the initial study in India.

It will kill the airline industry which is already living between life and death.

All airlines will collapse if high speed railways connect all corners of the country.

 

[definitelynotIndian]

It will kill the airline industry which is already living between life and death.

All airlines will collapse if high speed railways connect all corners of the country.

Wouldnt that be good?

 

[Tshering22]

Wouldnt that be good?

It will be a disaster.

I have a few friends who work as analysts in the aviation sector and they have already raised their concern against the mass deployment of HSR across the country.

Short business corridors are fine.

Airline industry is a very strategic one and has undergone billions worth of private and public money. A bullet train from Delhi to Chennai or Surat to Guwahati will ruin many airlines. Only normal Indian Railways will remain immune because the price of a bullet train tickets are close to an airline.

 

[Levina]

It will kill the airline industry which is already living between life and death.

All airlines will collapse if high speed railways connect all corners of the country.

Airliners must learn to provide a good service first. If they dont improve then they'll 've to bear the brunt of it.

 

[pher]

China should not get involved in to this kind of projects in the first place. inida is a country poorer than africa, let them go to jap's high quality, high price choice, keeping being ripped off.

 

[DoTell]

To be honest, I want China to get this project. We are not talking about Mexico across the ocean here. It's India, China's next door neighbor which happens to be the world's second largest country that is on the verge of industrialization. But oppositions in China from social media and the negative remarks of some very high ranking officials don't make it sound promising. As a rule of thumb in China, when there is conflict of interest between finance and politics, politics wins. As it is now, the political differences between the two countries seem too large to overcome. If India really needs this HSR badly, Japan might just be the one to build it. We shall see.

 

[Echo_419]

To be honest, I want China to get this project. We are not talking about Mexico across the ocean here. It's India, China's next door neighbor which happens to be the world's second largest country that is on the verge of industrialization. But oppositions in China from social media and the negative remarks of some very high ranking officials don't make it sound promising. As a rule of thumb in China, when there is conflict of interest between finance and politics, politics wins. As it is now, the political differences between the two countries seem too large to overcome. If India really needs this HSR badly, Japan might just be the one to build it. We shall see.

The negative comments on social media is mostly Chinese & our Govt welcomes Foriegn investment wholeheartedly from any country