Collaboration between Vietnam and China in High-Speed Rail Development: A Step Towards a Connected Future

The North-South High-Speed Railway project, which spans over 1,500 km, is set to be implemented by 2026-2027. This was announced by Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang. Recently, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Mr. Lou Qiliang, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of China Railway Signal Information Corporation (CRSC) in Dalian city, China.

CRSC is a global leader in railway transport control systems and sets technical and product standards in the industry. Vietnam’s interest in collaborating with China on railways, rolling stock, and signaling technologies crucial for the safety of high-speed and urban railways was expressed by Minister Thang.

Vietnam aims to have 3,000 km of highways by 2025 and expand to 5,000 km by 2030. Investment in railway infrastructure, especially the North-South high-speed railway project, is essential for completing the multimodal transport network and enhancing national competitiveness. The Ministry of Transport has proposed different scenarios for the North-South railway project, with Prime Minister Chinh hoping for China’s support in design, construction, and technology transfer.

CRSC has expressed interest in collaborating with Vietnam in research, development, and railway signaling technologies. Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the importance of training human resources for railway projects and encouraged discussions between the two countries to promote cooperation in this area.

Vietnam and China are working on three railway projects linking the two countries. The first project is expected to be completed by mid-2025. Minister Thang proposed cooperation on standard gauge railway projects connecting key areas such as seaports