Transport ministry urged to start construction of railway connecting with China next year

At a Cabinet meeting held on November 9, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Ministry of Transport to commence the construction of the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway linking with China's Yunnan province, the Government News reported.

The railway line, stretching more than 417 kilometers through nine northern cities and provinces, namely Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong.

There will be 36 stations along the line, with Lao Cai serving as a rail yard and international interchange.

The Ministry of Transport is currently preparing the pre-feasibility report for the project with an estimated investment of $11 billion.

Earlier, on November 6, at a meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Dai Hegen, the Vietnamese Government leader noted the project will serve as a vital railway link between Vietnam and China, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative.

"This project will also provide Yunnan with faster access to the sea while supporting socio-economic development and poverty alleviation in Vietnam's northern border provinces," the PM added.

In addition to the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong line, the Vietnamese leader suggested CRCC explore the possibility of participating in other major infrastructure projects in Vietnam, such as the Hanoi-Lang Son railway, the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong railway, the North-South high-speed railway, and expressway projects linking border provinces with China.