"But we are careful in considering factors such as financial viability of projects and risks."
SCMP reported that Mr Ma learnt from Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai at the forum on Sunday that the tender for the rail project was due at the end of this year. Mr Ma said MTR Corp and China Railway Corp signed a memorandum of understanding for any cooperation in the "Belt and Road" initiative last December, paving the way for future partnership in more than 60 countries along the overland and maritime trade corridors.
Mr Ma said there are many highly populated markets along the trade corridors. He added that risks involved in politics, financing and corruption had to be mitigated.
"The financing issue can be resolved through AIIB," Mr Ma said, referring to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The China-backed bank was started in 2015 to help finance the building of infrastructure in the economies along the trade routes.
MTR Corp's reach extends to Beijing, London, Australia and Sweden, mostly in managing rail lines.
Last November, it opened Hong Kong's first institution for railway engineers.
An express rail link connecting the city to the mainland's national high-speed network is also scheduled to open next year.