Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are continuing to try and expedite the completion of the rapid train project so that it can be made operational by the middle of this year, Special Staff to the SOEs Minister Arya Sinulingga said.

The completion of the rapid train project remains on schedule, he told a press conference here on Friday.

One of the tasks given by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to SOEs Minister Erick Thohir has been the completion of the rapid train project.

The rapid train project is currently being undertaken alongside the LRT Jabodebek train project.

Speaking about the rapid train project's cost overrun, Sinulingga said that it is still being negotiated with China, however, work on the Jakarta-Bandung Rapid Train project has continued.

During the G20 Summit, Widodo and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a commitment concerning this matter.

Sinulingga said he expects the negotiation in China next week to result in an agreement.

Earlier, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi had said that he expects the Jakarta Bandung Rapid Train (KCJB) project to be completed on time.

The KCJB’s development is entering a crucial year, and he said he expects the Chinese and Indonesian construction units to continue to work hard, collaborate closely, and ensure that the project is completed and unveiled on time.

The rapid train track is an important cooperation project between Indonesia and China, which will connect Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, with another major city, Bandung.

Designed to allow trains to reach a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, the train track will cut travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from 3 hours to 40 minutes.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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