PM Lee confident about strong Japan rail bids

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong is confident that Japanese firms will put in "very strong" bids when the tender for the upcoming high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur is eventually called.

Japan has its Shinkansen, or bullet train, technology and Mr Lee said that Singapore would be happy to consider proposals from Japan, although he added that it was still a "very long way" before the bidding process will open.

He said that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had discussed the project with him during their bilateral meeting in Tokyo last Friday.