China's Ministry of Railways stated yesterday that it had not signed any contract with the German engineering giant Siemens for high-speed trains, denying the company's claim of having won an order for 100 high-speed trains on China's Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway.

An official with the ministry said they had contacted Siemens and requested an explanation for the claim, according to the newspaper Beijing Morning Post.

The official also divulged that the Beijing Railway Administration has signed an order for 100 high-speed trains with Tangshan Railway Vehicles and Changchun Track Passenger Cars, both under the China CNR Corporation Ltd, which he confirmed are to be used on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway.

A reporter with the newspaper also contacted Siemens' China office; he was told they were aware of reports about the supposed contract win by Siemens, but would have to consult their head office before answering any questions.

Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported on March 24 an announcement from the Siemens Company that they had won China's Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway order, worth approx. €750 million (about US$1.02 billion).

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, March 26, 2009)