Indonesia delays decision on China-Japan bid for its first bullet train

A bullet train moves in Xinzheng, central China's Henan province on Sept 28, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Indonesia's government has decided to put off announcing whether a Chinese or Japanese firm will be getting a highly-sought after high-speed rail contract for a few days.

An announcement, which had been expected this week, has been put off until at least Monday.

A reason for the delay has not been given.

Jiang Yuechun with the China Institute of International studies says the Chinese bid has a clear advantage.

"In terms of cost effectiveness, China enjoys a unique advantage among the world's major high-speed railway powerhouses. In addition, China has a clear advantage in such areas as the project duration, maintenance and government support. But above all, cost is a key advantage for China."

The line itself would run 160-kilometers between the capital, Jakarta, and the textile-producing hub of Bandung.

Recent reports have been suggesting Indonesia's cabinet, which has the final say, has been leaning toward the Chinese bid, as it would see the line completed by 2019, as opposed to 2021 in the Japanese bid.