Prime Minister calls for enhanced development cooperation with Guangxi, China
On the afternoon of August 28, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Liu Ning, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on the occasion of Mr. Liu Ning’s visit and working trip to Vietnam.
This is the second consecutive year that Mr. Liu Ning has visited Vietnam after assuming the position of Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh considered this a testament to Guangxi’s high regard for its cooperative relations with Vietnamese localities.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also expressed his hope for renewed efforts to bring about breakthroughs in substantive areas of cooperation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee, Liu Ning – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Prime Minister proposed accelerating the “hard connectivity” of expressways and high-speed railways, especially the Lang Son – Hanoi and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong routes connecting to Guangxi, while also promoting the upgrading of “soft connectivity” in the form of smart customs and smart border gates.
Secretary Liu Ning affirmed his determination to promote cooperation between the two sides, expand and deepen friendly exchanges with Vietnamese localities, and enhance transportation connectivity in terms of roads, railways, and maritime routes, in line with the scale of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. He emphasized the need to capitalize on the unique geographical advantages to facilitate deeper connections through Guangxi to mainland China and third countries, as well as through Vietnam to ASEAN member states.
Cooperation between Vietnam and Guangxi has yielded significant results in recent times. In 2023, trade between the two sides exceeded USD 36 billion, marking a 29.2% increase compared to the previous year. Vietnam has maintained its position as Guangxi’s largest trading partner for 25 consecutive years. Cumulative investment from Guangxi in Vietnam has surpassed USD 1.83 billion, and the pilot project for smart border gates has been promoted.
Guangxi focuses on building a comprehensive transport network with Vietnam
As one of the two Chinese provinces that share a border with Vietnam, Guangxi boasts a lengthy border and is home to significant border gates such as Youyi Guan (Huu Nghi, Lang Son) and Dongxing (Mong Cai, Quang Ninh). These border gates serve as vital transport links connecting China to Vietnam and other ASEAN countries.
Over the years, thanks to its advantageous geographical location and convenient transportation, Guangxi has closely cooperated with Vietnamese localities to explore and innovate development models, open up border areas, and foster robust economic and trade relations.
Presently, the number of international road transport routes connecting Guangxi to Vietnam has increased from 20 in 2011 to 30. Additionally, there are now five pairs of smart border gates that allow for the passage of international road transport vehicles.
Huu Nghi Quan Border Gate between Lang Son Province and Guangxi. Photo: VGP
According to the Guangxi Expressway Network Plan for 2018-2030, a total of 13 expressways will directly connect to border gates with Vietnam. So far, five have been completed, and Guangxi is constructing an additional eight expressways to directly link to border gates with Vietnam. Simultaneously, the locality is also enhancing railway connectivity, notably with the project to build the Chongzuo-Pingxiang railway, which will directly connect to the border area with Lang Son Province (Vietnam).
Furthermore, Guangxi has completed the Fangchenggang-Dongxing high-speed railway. This is the first high-speed railway in China to reach Dongxing, a border city with Vietnam.
Fangchenggang-Dongxing High-Speed Railway. Photo: People.cn
Leveraging its proximity to Vietnam, Guangxi is aiming to establish a comprehensive transport network encompassing both road and rail, develop smart border gates, and thereby enhance passenger transport and trade facilitation. This will create a connectivity corridor between China and ASEAN.
What railway lines is Vietnam planning to build to connect with Guangxi?
During the meeting with Secretary Liu Ning, the Prime Minister mentioned two significant railway lines connecting Vietnam to Guangxi: the Lang Son – Hanoi and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong routes.
These two projects also recently received good news. On August 19, in Beijing, General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping of China jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries, including:
A letter of agreement between the Ministry of Transport of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China on the feasibility study for the technical assistance project for the planning of two standard-gauge railway lines, Lang Son – Hanoi and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hanoi.
Hanoi – Lang Son Railway Project
Dong Dang Station is the terminus of the Gia Lam (Hanoi) – Lang Son railway line and is of particular importance as it connects to the international railway line to Pingxiang, China.
The mixed-gauge railway line from Lang Son to Hanoi is approximately 167 kilometers long and has 21 stations along the route. Its maximum capacity can accommodate up to 19 train pairs per day and night.
Currently, China is also studying a grant to assist Vietnam in surveying and elaborating the detailed planning of the standard-gauge railway line from Lang Son to Hanoi.
Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hanoi Railway Project
The technical assistance project for the planning and feasibility study of the standard-gauge railway line from Mong Cai to Ha Long to Hanoi, provided by the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, will open a new route connecting the border gate of Mong Cai to the capital city of Hanoi, boosting trade, export, and tourism development.
If the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hanoi railway line is invested in, it will be nearly 280 kilometers long. The early implementation of the Ha Long – Mong Cai railway line will form a closed railway network connecting Ha Khau (China) – Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long – Mong Cai – Dongxing (China), making an important contribution to the transport of goods and passengers between Vietnam and China and ASEAN.
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