After concluding its deal with Pakistan to bring a rail link from China through the Himalayas and down to the Arabian Sea, it's now pursuing a massive program to link the east & west coasts of South America.
It's good to see somebody in this world has got the balls to pursue some grand infrastructure projects like our forefathers did.
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A Chinese scheme to build an east-west railway across South America, cutting across parts of the Amazon rain forest, has moved a step closer after Peru agreed to study the proposal.

The scheme would link Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic shores.

The decision came after talks between the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and Peruvian President Ollanta Humala.

If completed, the railway would stretch 5,300km (3,300 miles) but campaigners fear the impact on indigenous people.

Brazil, China and Peru will now begin feasibility studies into the railway.




Mr Li secured Brazil's consent earlier this week, as part of his tour of Latin America.

The railway would "consolidate Peru's geopolitical position as a natural gateway to South America", President Humala said.

For China, it would reduce the cost of shipping raw materials and farm products.

But campaigners are concerned it might destroy untouched parts of the Amazon rainforest, affecting hundreds of indigenous communities.

Mr Li sought to ease fears, saying "to create the infrastructure, it is necessary to protect the environment" in a declaration with Mr Humala, AFP reported.

It is likely to cost more than $10 billion (£6.5 billion). The route is still being examined, but would begin in the gigantic Brazilian port of Acu and ending at a Peruvian port.

The Chinese President, Xi Jinping, pledged earlier this year to invest $250 billion (£161 billion) in Latin America over the next decade.

i don't like the moral questions this poses: what is a country and what is an invasion and what is commerce and where is the line between all these thing?

You can't just throw your hands in the air and call it 'globalisation' whilst rolling your eyes- this is unprecedented is it not??

This is the buying of influence... the purchasing of power.... is it not??

Next the Sino-Andes Tunnel... branch line to the Pilbara where Chinese trains can pick up ore and run home on solar power - dirt cheap...