California seeks Chinese help for high-speed rail

Schwarzenegger, who was in Shanghai as part of a week-long trade mission to Asia, talked about using Chinese technology and financing to build a high-speed railway in California, the Shanghai Daily reported Monday.

Schwarzenegger Sunday took a round trip between Shanghai and Suzhou on the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway, a 301-km line that opened July 1, running at an average 350 km per hour.

"Today what I have seen is very, very impressive. We hope China is part of the bidding process, along with other countries around the world, so that we can build a high speed rail as inexpensively as possible," Schwarzenegger said at a press conference at the Shanghai World Expo.

He said America's most populous state will bid for the 2020 World Expo in Silicon Valley.
"Shanghai demonstrated that when you host the World Expo, the world comes to you, and I want the world to come to California," Schwarzenegger said.

During his trip, Schwarzenegger will also check out high-speed rail in Japan and South Korea - two others among at least seven countries that have officially shown interest in helping develop California's system.