Opening of the 44th Vietnam - China Border Railway Conference

This morning (December 11), the 44th Vietnam - China Border Railway Conference opened in Hanoi.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Tran Thien Canh, Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority, said that in recent times, the cooperation relationship in developing Vietnam-China railways has been particularly strengthened, clearly demonstrated in the joint statements during state visits between the leaders of the two Parties and the two States. In December 2024, the Vietnamese Government completed internal procedures and authorized the Minister of Transport to sign an agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in implementing standard gauge railway projects connecting Vietnam and China.

Panorama of the opening ceremony of the 44th Vietnam - China Border Railway Conference.

Vietnam's Ministry of Transport is also actively preparing to invest in three railway lines connecting Vietnam and China, including: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong standard gauge railway connecting with Yunnan province, China, striving to start construction in 2025; Detailed planning of Dong Dang - Hanoi and Hai Phong - Ha Long - Mong Cai railways connecting with Guangxi province, China. "After investment, I believe that the transport output and the number of international intermodal passengers will increase significantly, commensurate with the potential and trade needs between the two countries," said Mr. Canh. The Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority informed that from 2020 to present, the volume of goods transported by rail between Vietnam and China has continuously grown, of which 2022 recorded an output of approximately 1.2 million tons. In 2023, the volume decreased compared to the same period due to the impact of the global economic recession, however, in 2024, the volume of international intermodal cargo gradually recovered and grew.

Since Vietnam and China signed the Vietnam-China Border Railway Agreement in 1992 and the international railway connection between the two countries was reopened in 1996, the Vietnam-China Border Railway Conference has been held annually by each country. Through exchanges, the two sides identified existing problems and requirements arising from practice, through which many practical solutions have been negotiated, agreed upon and implemented by the two sides. Mr. Tran Thien Canh, Director of Vietnam Railways Department

After nearly 4 years of interruption in organizing the Vietnam - China Border Railway Conference due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the railway sectors of the two countries have made every effort to properly implement the provisions of the 43rd Conference Protocol, while closely coordinating to create maximum conditions for each other in resolving issues arising in freight transport.

"The conference will review and evaluate the implementation results of the contents of the Protocol of the 43rd Vietnam-China Border Railway Conference in Nanning, China to negotiate and resolve difficulties, problems and issues arising in Vietnam-China railway transport in recent years. At the same time, propose solutions and regulations to continue to increase transport volume, especially international freight transport volume, and discuss solutions to restart international passenger trains," Mr. Canh emphasized.

Mr. Duong Ban, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nanning Customs Bureau Group Co., Ltd., spoke at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Duong Ban, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nanning Railway Group Limited Company - Head of the Chinese delegation, said that strengthening railway cooperation between the two countries is a practical work to build a community of shared future between Vietnam and China in the railway sector. Since the 43rd Vietnam - China Border Railway Conference, under the joint efforts of the two countries, international railway transportation has continuously developed, maintained, stabilized and safe.

Delegates take souvenir photos.

The Chinese railway side is also promoting railway routes connecting the two countries' border gates, such as renovating and upgrading the Nanning - Pingxiang route connecting the railway border gate with Vietnam's Dong Dang international transit station... Since 2024, the fast-clearance container train has been organized to run regularly, shortening train running time and continuously improving efficiency. The scale and quality of container trains continue to be improved, becoming a fast way to promote trade. "Today we discuss Vietnam - China railway transit work, summarize experiences, exchange, solve existing problems, commit to improving the quality of container trains, promote border gate transportation to be increasingly smooth, convenient and effective, thereby contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the two countries", Mr. Ban said. According to the plan, the signing ceremony of the Vietnam - China Border Railway Protocol will be held immediately after the two countries' negotiating delegations agree on the issues discussed at this Conference.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/khai-mac-hoi-nghi-duong-sat-bien-gioi-viet-trung-lan-thu-44-192241211120417332.htm