China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner and a vital source of imports for its manufacturing sector. The two countries are already connected via a system of highways and two railway lines that are old and need upgrading on the Vietnam side.
One of the planned high-speed lines would run from Vietnam’s port cities of Haiphong and Quang Ninh through Hanoi to Lao Cai province, which borders China’s Yunnan province, the ministry said in a statement released late on Tuesday.
China puts trust in AI to maintain largest high-speed rail network on Earth
China puts trust in AI to maintain largest high-speed rail network on Earth
The other would run from Hanoi to Lang Son province, which borders China’s Guangxi region, passing through an area densely populated with global manufacturing facilities, including some owned by Chinese investors.
The ministry didn’t provide further details about the projects.
Earlier this month, Vietnam said it was seeking to learn from China to develop its first high-speed railway network and had sent its officials to work with Chinese railway companies.
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Xi Jinping says Vietnam is a ‘diplomatic priority’ as Chinese leader seeks closer bilateral ties
Xi Jinping says Vietnam is a ‘diplomatic priority’ as Chinese leader seeks closer bilateral ties
A massive high-speed railway line linking capital Hanoi with business hub Ho Chi Minh City is also being planned in the country.
Trade between Vietnam and China in the first quarter of this year rose 22 per cent from a year earlier to US$43.6 billion, according to Vietnamese government data.