Debate is mounting about a challenge to Singapore's cargo competitiveness as the clock ticks towards completion of a rail line linking the state to China.rnThe Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has puts its weight behind the line, with secretary-general, Ong Keng Yong, saying: "a rail line is still the cheapest way of transporting many of our goods across borders".rnNot necessarily so, said Puan Nor Azrina Azlan, assistant CEO of Global Carriers, pointing out that the economics of rail versus shipping hinges primarily on the nature of the cargo.rn"Take for example petroleum. It is still viable to have it moved by ship than by rail any time," she said.rnThe Singapore-China link is conservatively scheduled for completion by 2015, adding to an existing line to Malaysia that will ultimately run through Vietnam to the southern China hinterland destination of Kunming.
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机译：东南亚国家联盟（ASEAN）已将重心放在首位，秘书长奥格（Ong）则对新加坡货运竞争力的挑战日趋激烈。 Keng Yong表示：“铁路仍然是跨境运输我们许多货物的最便宜的方式。” rn并非如此，Global Carriers的首席执行官助理Puan Nor Azrina Azlan指出，铁路与运输的经济关系她说：“举个例子，石油。随时通过船运而不是铁路运输仍是可行的。”保守地说，新加坡与中国之间的联系计划于2015年完成。一条通往马来西亚的现有铁路线，最终将穿越越南到达中国南方的内地目的地昆明。
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