The Ministry of Construction of Vietnam recently confirmed this cooperation during the state visit of Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to Vietnam.

With approval from relevant authorities, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh signed seven key agreements with Chinese counterparts in the railway and road transport sectors.

These include two intergovernmental treaties, two ODA capital agreements between the two governments, and three ministerial-level cooperation documents.

Specifically in the railway sector, four key documents were signed:

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Construction and the National Development and Reform Commission of China to establish a Joint Committee for Vietnam-China Railway Cooperation aimed at accelerating project implementation.

A working record between the Ministry of Construction and China’s National International Development Cooperation Agency on conducting field surveys and providing technical assistance for the feasibility study report of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.

An exchange letter regarding China’s technical assistance in planning the standard-gauge railway route Dong Dang - Hanoi, and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong.

An exchange letter confirming China’s support in preparing the feasibility study report for the standard-gauge Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.

These railway agreements are vital for expediting preparation and implementation of cross-border railway projects that both governments have been prioritizing.

In particular, the Ministry of Construction successfully urged the Chinese side to finalize and sign the exchange letter providing technical support for the feasibility study of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.

This document is a critical foundation for the relevant agencies of both countries to coordinate internal procedures and initiate the project soon.

In the road transport sector, Minister Tran Hong Minh signed three more documents:

An agreement between the two governments on jointly constructing a cross-border transport infrastructure project at the Thanh Thuy (Vietnam) - Tianbao (China) international border gate.

A protocol simplifying entry and exit procedures at the Thanh Thuy - Tianbao border gate for personnel, vehicles, equipment, and construction materials serving the cross-border project.

A Memorandum of Understanding on road technical cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction and China’s Ministry of Transport.

The agreements on cross-border infrastructure construction provide an important legal basis for Ha Giang Province (Vietnam) and Yunnan Province (China) to jointly invest in and build the transport connection at the Thanh Thuy - Tianbao border gate. This cooperation is expected to boost trade and meet the increasing travel demands of residents in both provinces and both countries.

N. Huyen