Malaysia’s government has said it would consider extending a US$10 billion China-led rail project to its border with Thailand to boost economic ties between the Southeast Asian neighbors.

The initial proposal for the rail connection dates back to 2017, with construction undertaken by the Malaysian division of China Communications Construction Co Ltd. As of March 2024, the project has reached a completion rate of 60%. The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), designed to link Malaysia's western and eastern shores, is anticipated to be completed fully by 2027. The current alignment terminates at Kota Bharu, situated approximately 40 km from the Thai border.