The track laying ceremony of Malaysian East Coast Rail Link built by China Communications Construction Company

Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a landmark project of cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) , and it is hoped that practical cooperation between China and Malaysia will continue to deepen, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The ECRL is progressing smoothly, and is more than half completed. The project will fill the gap between the East Coast and the West Coast of the Malay Peninsula without railway connections, and improve the connectivity of the areas along the line, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday.

"The rail project is a landmark BRI cooperation project and is also one of the largest single transportation infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises overseas," said Mao.
The ECRL's first tracks were laid on Monday, with Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah having witnessed the historic moment at a ceremony held in Kuantan, Malaysia.

The mega railway project is among the fruitful results of BRI cooperation between China and Malaysia. The Kuantan Port and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, located on the East Coast of Malaysia, and the Klang Port on the West Coast, are good examples.

The Kuantan Port operates an overarching maritime network, leveraging Malaysia's position as an important gateway for commerce along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Within the Asian region, it now directly connects with multiple ports in China, ASEAN and Japan, the Global Times has learned.

The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Malaysia in July, 2023 Photo: Zhao Juecheng/GT

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia.

"Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia. We look forward to deepening practical cooperation in various fields between the two countries and bringing more benefits to the two peoples," said Mao.

Global Times