Chinese and Thai officials, locked in talks to finalize the details of a massive railway project set to connect Thailand and China, have announced that construction on the new railway will begin before the end of the year. Here's our correspondent with more on that.

It’s no longer a dream - it’s a fact. That’s the message from officials signing the minutes of the 5th meeting of the Joint Committee on Railway Co-operation between Thailand and China.

As both sides initialed the document, they gave a firm commitment that construction of Thailand’s new railway network – in partnership with China – will begin before the end of the year.

The committee says real progress has been made. It’s close to finalizing details of the precise route, environmental impact and the training of Thai engineers by Chinese technical experts. Discussions continue on possible loans from China to finance the $12 billion project.

"I’d like to say to all people who worry on this project, please feel confidence. We will make it happen," said Prajin Juntong, Thai Transport Minister.

The network will be built in four stages. Phases one and two will see a new line from the Thai capital Bangkok to Kaeng Khoi – and on the seaport of Map Ta Phut.

Phase three links Kaeng Khoi to the important eastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima – phase four continues north to Nong Khai, at the border with Laos.

China is building a separate railway through Laos. New trains capable of carrying passengers and freight at speeds of up to 180 kilometers an hour will be provided by China, to replace the ageing locomotives and coaches of Thailand’s current network.

The meeting’s been taking place near to the route of the new railway, in Thailand’s eastern plains. The committee says it’s bringing closer to reality the long-standing vision of connecting China to Thailand via a truly Trans Asian Railway Network.

This all comes in the month Thailand and China celebrate forty years of diplomatic relations. In the next three months a Framework Agreement will be submitted to the Thai parliament. Once approved a formal contract will be signed by Thailand and China - with construction beginning in December.

Parts of the line are due to open in 2017 – with the whole route operational the following year, bringing Thailand’s long-criticized rail network firmly into the 21st century.