National Assembly delegates said that the high-speed railway on the North-South axis is like a "dragon" incarnated, rising up to bring the country into a new era.
Create spillover momentum, increase economic competitiveness
Highly agreeing with the Government's Proposal and the National Assembly's Economic Committee's Verification Report on the necessity of issuing a Resolution on the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis, National Assembly deputies said that the North-South corridor is the largest transport corridor in the country, playing a great role and significance in the country's socio-economic development; connecting the East-West corridors and growth poles to create a driving force for the socio-economic development of the whole country.
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| The National Assembly Chairman, Vice Chairmen and National Assembly deputies watch a video clip explaining the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis (Photo: QH) |
The development of traffic along the North-South axis helps effectively connect seaports, airports, international border gates, major trading hubs, urban areas, economic centers, growth poles and economic corridors of the region and the world.
Project investment plays an important role in realizing the Party's guidelines and orientations and the State's policies, creating a breakthrough in the development and modernization of transport infrastructure, connecting with the railway system in the region and Asia; opening up new economic development space; creating a spillover momentum, contributing to improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the entire Vietnamese economy from material production to mechanical manufacturing, infrastructure construction, electricity, digital technology...
Speaking at the National Assembly on November 20, delegate Nguyen Tam Hung from Ba Ria - Vung Tau expressed his support and agreement with the investment policy of the North - South high-speed railway project. This is a millennium project, not only a large-scale transport project but also an important national strategy, which will bring long-term development momentum to the country, especially in the context of globalization and deep international integration as today.
Investing in the construction of the North-South high-speed railway will overcome serious limitations in the current transport system, especially the old and unsafe railway. Currently, our country's railway is gradually losing its role and has a high potential risk of traffic insecurity.
According to the Government's Proposal, the high-speed railway will help shorten the distance between regions, reduce pressure on other transport routes such as roads and air routes, reduce traffic congestion and accidents in large cities, and contribute to meeting the large transport demand on the North-South corridor with a forecast that by 2050 this railway line will need to handle about 122.7 million passengers and 18.2 million tons of cargo. This shows the indispensable role of railways in supporting socio-economic development and meeting people's travel needs.
Second , the project is consistent with national strategic planning. The North-South high-speed railway project is completely consistent with the national master planning strategies until 2050, and is also a concretization of Resolution 13 of the Party on synchronous and modern infrastructure development.
According to the railway network planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, the North-South high-speed railway is the backbone of the transport system, prioritized for investment before 2030. This not only ensures synchronization but also supports the development of key economic regions along the route, expanding the socio-economic space vertically across the country.
Third , the socio-economic benefits that the project brings are enormous. The North-South high-speed railway project is not only significant in improving transport capacity but also contributes to the development of supporting industries, services, tourism and creates millions of jobs.
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| Delegate Nguyen Tam Hung - National Assembly Delegation of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province |
According to the Government's calculations, the total construction market value from the project could reach 33.5 billion USD, and if related projects such as national railways and urban railways are included, this figure could reach 75.6 billion USD. "In particular, investment in railway infrastructure will create a foundation for Vietnam to develop manufacturing industry and localization in the railway industry, a field in which we are still limited," emphasized delegate Nguyen Tam Hung.
Fourth , the North-South high-speed railway will help reduce logistics costs, one of the major obstacles to the competitiveness of Vietnam's economy today. Transporting passengers and goods by rail will help reduce pressure on roads, reduce operating costs and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at the COP 26 Conference. This is the right direction for a sustainable, environmentally friendly mode of transport, in line with the world's green development trend.
Delegate Nguyen Quoc Han - Ca Mau delegation assessed that the modern transport infrastructure system is the foundation of a modern industrial country, in which railways are an important means of transport on corridors with large traffic volume. Our country stretches from North to South with a dominant length, so the North - South economic corridor occupies the most important position in the country.
Connecting this corridor will create a driving force for socio-economic development. With the advantage of large-volume, fast, safe and convenient transportation, the North-South railway will shorten the distance between localities and regions, open up economic development space, promote economic development, services, tourism, contribute to reducing logistics costs, and increase the competitiveness of the economy.
Previously, at the National Assembly's group meeting, delegate Pham Trong Nghia - Lang Son delegation agreed with the necessity of investing in the project for the reasons stated in the Government's Submission 767/TTr-CP dated November 10, 2024 to concretize the Party's policies and orientations, Resolutions and Conclusions of the Politburo related to socio-economic development in general and railway development in particular and implementation of plans.
"The goal of building a high-speed railway is to meet transportation needs, contribute to restructuring the transportation market share on the North-South corridor in an optimal and sustainable manner, create a premise and driving force for socio-economic development, and ensure national defense and security," emphasized delegate Pham Trong Nghia.
According to the delegate, the project meets the criteria of a national important project, therefore, the Government's submission to the National Assembly for consideration and decision on the project investment policy is in accordance with the law. The dossier of the North-South High-Speed Railway Project basically meets the list of documents prescribed in Article 20 of the Law on Public Investment on national important projects, including: Submission; pre-feasibility study report; appraisal report of the State Appraisal Council; draft Resolution; other relevant documents.
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| Delegate Pham Trong Nghia - National Assembly Delegation of Lang Son province |
Mr. Pham Trong Nghia also agreed with the regulation of specific and special mechanisms and policies to implement the project, contributing to speeding up the implementation progress, avoiding problems related to investment procedures, site clearance, compensation plans, resettlement support, bidding mechanisms, contractor selection, construction material sources, etc. as in the implementation of some important national projects in the past.
Sharing on the sidelines of the National Assembly, delegate Hoang Van Cuong - Hanoi delegation also agreed on the necessity of building a North-South high-speed railway because we have a long country with key economic zones, it is necessary to have connections with economic zones to create spillover, avoiding the situation of concentrating on a few big cities, while other places on that axis cannot develop.
"The current bottleneck is logistics, which cannot attract investment for development, so when this route is completed, it will solve the logistics bottleneck, especially North-South freight transport" - said a delegate from Hanoi.
Mr. Cuong said that currently, the export of goods is leaning towards a very large market, therefore, it is necessary to promote the market to Europe and the Middle East. Therefore, there is no other way than the railway route. Developing a railway connecting with the railway system of North Asia will solve the problem of exporting goods.
"I hope to develop this railway to solve logistics problems, transport goods for export, and connect with the international community," the delegate said, adding that the benefit of investing in high-speed railways is to create new development space. From there, it will promote the development of many other fields, not just generating revenue from ticket sales.
However, Mr. Cuong is concerned that the proposed railway line will only transport passengers, while goods will only be used for multi-purpose purposes when necessary. As for goods, the old railway system will be used, but the old railway system cannot be connected internationally because the railway gauge is 1m43, and stopping at a certain point will no longer be of value. Therefore, goods are currently mainly transported by road. Therefore, it is proposed that this route is dual-use, including both cargo and passenger to solve the need for international freight transport.
Delegate Nguyen Dai Thang - Hung Yen delegation commented that investment in developing transport infrastructure in recent times has mainly focused on roads and aviation; railway infrastructure has not received proper attention and investment, leading to backwardness, disproportionate development, and failure to promote the inherent advantages and potential of this mode of transport.
The project investment aims to concretize the Party's policies, implement the State's policies and laws, create a breakthrough in the development and modernization of transport infrastructure, and connect with regional and Asian railway systems. At the same time, it opens up new economic development space; creates a spillover momentum, contributing to improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the entire Vietnamese economy from material production to mechanical manufacturing, infrastructure construction, electricity, digital technology, etc.
Mr. Thang commented that railway transport is gradually losing its role, infrastructure is outdated, service quality is low and behind the world and the region. In 2023, the market share of passenger traffic will be only 1.07%, and that of goods will be only 0.91%. Meanwhile, in developed countries, the market share of public passenger transport is very high, very comfortable and punctual, convenient, fast, and the infrastructure services are synchronous.
Investing in the North-South high-speed railway project will help promote the North-South economic corridor, shorten the distance between localities and regions, contribute to reducing the pressure of population concentration, infrastructure overload in large cities, and increase in personal vehicles causing serious traffic congestion in large cities, which is causing many consequences, especially in the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
"From there, it opens up development space, effectively exploits resources from land funds, promotes economic development - services, tourism, increases the competitiveness of the economy, and contributes to reducing logistics costs" - Mr. Thang stated.
Prepare the project thoroughly from the beginning
Emphasizing that the conditions for project implementation are now ripe and internal resources have been fully prepared, Venerable Thich Duc Thien - Dien Bien delegation said that this high-speed train is like a dragon incarnated, rising up to bring the country into a new era.
Regarding resources, delegates said that we should not be afraid of borrowing foreign capital. Foreign funds participating in buying government bonds are increasing day by day. We can use the government bond market to attract foreign capital, focusing on this project.
Regarding technology, the Ministry of Transport must gather experts to decide which technology is appropriate, in which it is necessary to put trust in large corporations and national enterprises of Vietnam in grasping, receiving transfer and mastering technology.
According to the delegate, Vietnamese people are very intelligent, wise, and have more than enough ability to master technology. What needs to be done is to create a mechanism for Vietnamese enterprises to participate in this project from the beginning.
Delegate Lo Thi Viet Ha - Tuyen Quang delegation said that the construction of the high-speed railway was approved in 2010, but for many reasons, the project has not been implemented. However, up to now, the construction of the North-South high-speed railway is extremely necessary.
The high-speed railway project with advantages such as being environmentally friendly, safe, reducing the load for other types of transport, being the main mode of transport on the country's large-volume transport corridors, exploiting the full potential, promoting the role and position of railway transport will contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the whole country.
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| Delegate Hoang Van Cuong - National Assembly Delegation of Hanoi City |
The total investment for the high-speed railway project is more than 67 billion USD, but many experts and National Assembly delegates have affirmed that resources are no longer a major obstacle. Hoang Van Cuong stated that, clearly, the total investment capital expected for the high-speed railway is very large, we have never invested so much in a project. However, the ability to arrange capital is not too difficult if we have a proactive investment strategy.
Because looking at the current public debt space of about 37% with the public debt ceiling of 60%, we see that there is still a lot of room to mobilize through public debt. Because if we mobilize all 67 billion USD, it will increase public debt by about 10%. Of course, here we do not mobilize all at once but mobilize throughout the investment process of about 12-15 years. In addition, we must consider ways to diversify this investment resource.
For example, if we attract domestic corporations and investors to participate in the investment process of developing these railway lines, those corporations and investors themselves can also use their own capital to invest first, then gradually use the budget to cover the costs.
Mr. Cuong acknowledged that we must consider how to use each dollar of capital most effectively. With the same amount of capital, if we import from abroad, all the benefits will go to foreign investors. However, if there is a mechanism for domestic enterprises to produce, domestic investors will benefit. Thus, we know how to allocate that source of benefit for domestic investors to develop.
At the National Assembly hall discussing the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis on November 20, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang affirmed that our project has been studied for a very long time, with a full time of 18 years; the dossier has been directed by the Government to be reviewed, calculated carefully, and consulted with the experience of countries developing high-speed railways in the world to complete it.
"From the forecast results of transportation demand and the country's potential and position, it is shown that 2027 is a suitable time to implement investment. At the same time, the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee have thoroughly discussed the investment policy, factors and conditions for project implementation," said the Minister.
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| Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang clarified a number of issues raised by National Assembly deputies at the discussion session in the National Assembly hall on the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis. |
In addition, the pre-feasibility study report presented the conformity with the strategy, socio-economic development plan, national master plan, Vietnam railway network plan, related regional and provincial plans. The planning of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has not been approved, but the route plan and station location have been agreed upon by the two cities to be integrated into the draft plan.
The Government has also directed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to review and adjust the land use planning, which has updated the expected land use demand for the high-speed railway project to be about 10,827 hectares. Localities have also updated the route and works on the route, and the land fund demand for the project.
Previously, explaining further the opinions of National Assembly deputies on the implementation of railway projects at the group meeting of the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly, Minister Nguyen Van Thang stated that this is a modern high-speed railway project, designed to operate at a maximum speed of up to 350 km/h. In terms of function, this railway line mainly serves the needs of passenger transport. In special cases such as serving national security and defense purposes, the route can be used to transport goods.
Explaining the reason for this, the Minister said that, based on careful research and calculations, the future demand for freight transport along the North-South axis can be fully met by the existing railway system after upgrading, combined with the effective utilization of the road and coastal waterway transport systems. In particular, coastal waterways are considered a method of transporting large quantities of goods, with low costs and suitable for the geographical characteristics of our country.
The Minister of Transport also cited experiences from previous projects, and affirmed that careful preparation from the very beginning is the decisive factor for the project's success.
According to Minister Nguyen Van Thang, the three main reasons affecting the progress of previous urban railway projects were investment preparation, site clearance and partner selection.
Regarding investment preparation, the Minister said that in previous projects, preparation was often not thorough, leading to capital shortages and prolonged implementation time. With the North-South high-speed railway project, all technical factors, technology, route direction, etc. must be clearly defined from the beginning to ensure the project is implemented effectively.
Regarding the issue of site clearance, the Minister of Transport shared that this is one of the biggest challenges in infrastructure projects. However, with the attention of the National Assembly and relevant agencies, separating the site clearance project will help speed up the project implementation progress.
Regarding partner selection, the Minister emphasized the importance of selecting contractors with capacity, experience and commitment to technology transfer. Reducing dependence on ODA capital will help Vietnam have more autonomy in selecting partners and negotiating contract terms.
The Minister also proposed two options for raising capital for the project: borrowing foreign capital at preferential interest rates and issuing domestic bonds. However, borrowing foreign capital must be done carefully, ensuring that it does not create unnecessary constraints and increase the burden of public debt.
Regarding project management capacity, Minister Nguyen Van Thang said that there will be a clear division of responsibilities between units. Specifically, there will be two relatively independent enterprises, one in charge of infrastructure and one in charge of exploitation. This division will help increase the efficiency of project management and operation.
The Transport Minister also stressed the importance of human resource training. Strong investment in training will ensure there is a sufficient pool of highly qualified technical staff to operate and maintain the high-speed rail system.
Regarding technology transfer, the Minister said that clearly identifying the subjects and the correct content of the transfer is extremely important. Instead of focusing on transferring all core technologies, Vietnam should prioritize core technologies related to construction, production of locomotives and especially maintenance and repair. Mastering these technologies will help Vietnam reduce its dependence on foreign countries, save costs and ensure the sustainability of the project.
"Choosing domestic enterprises to participate in the technology transfer process is a correct decision. This will help create conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to improve their capacity, contributing to the development of the domestic railway industry," the Minister stated.
Speaking at the end of the discussion session at the National Assembly hall on the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis on the afternoon of November 20, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai said that during the discussion session, delegates agreed on the necessity of investing in the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis to institutionalize the Party's policy, creating a breakthrough in the development and modernization of transport infrastructure. Delegates discussed the scope, scale, investment divergence, noted regional connectivity and other modes and forms of transportation. Delegates also gave their opinions on the form of investment, financial and socio-economic efficiency of the project, technology used, human resources, land use needs, recovery and resettlement plans, compensation for damages, preliminary total investment, the ability to balance capital sources and the relationship with indicators on public debt, budget deficit, the ability to mobilize capital sources and the participation of economic sectors. Delegates also spoke about specific policies proposed for the project, project completion time, organization of exploitation and management when the project is completed, and attention to propaganda, mobilization, and creating consensus among the people. These are dedicated and responsible opinions that need to be carefully and thoroughly studied to complete the resolutions. |
Source: https://congthuong.vn/dau-tu-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-tao-duong-ray-phat-trien-dat-nuoc-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-bai-4-359576.html
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