Vietnam Seeks China’s Expertise for High-Speed Rail & 1,500 km North-South Railway Project

• 22 July 2024
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Vietnam is seeking China’s support for the development of its high-speed rail network, including the China-Vietnam cross-border railway project, to enhance trade between the two countries. On 25 June 2024, VnExpress reported that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed this request to Lou Qiliang, Chairman of China Railway Signal Information, during the World Economic Forum in Dalian.

Vietnam’s plan includes financial support and expertise from China for designing, constructing, and transferring technology for a cross-border railway connecting China’s Yunnan province to Vietnam’s northern port city of Haiphong. Additionally, there are plans for a railway link from China’s Dongxing city to Haiphong, Vietnam, and another connecting the Vietnamese border province of Lang Son to Hanoi.

Vietnamese Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang also sought China’s backing for a 1,500-kilometre high-speed rail project connecting northern and southern Vietnam, with construction expected to commence between 2026 and 2027.

During his visit to Hanoi last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to fund cross-border railway projects and outlined a three-year plan to boost bilateral trade. China remains Vietnam’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately US$200 billion in 2023, according to Bloomberg data.

• Road and Infrastructure