BANGKOK -(Dow Jones)- Thailand's Transport Ministry plans to speed up the negotiation process with relevant parties to realize a THB280 billion ($9.34 billion) high-speed train project linking the Kingdom with Laos and China, Transport Minister Sophon Zaram said Friday.

The ministry will seek to discuss with the Chinese government to set up a joint venture to operate the 615 kilometers rail project that will link the capital Bangkok with the northeastern province of Nong Khai at the Laos border, he told reporters.