Vietnam, China Prioritise Railway Infrastructure Cooperation and Strategic Connectivity

Kunming, The Gulf Observer: Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has proposed intensified infrastructure cooperation—particularly in the railway sector—between Việt Nam and China during a high-level meeting with Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of Hà’s working visit to China’s Yunnan Province, where he is attending bilateral activities and participating in the 9th China–South Asia Expo and the 29th Kunming Import and Export Fair.

Deputy PM Hà reaffirmed Việt Nam’s unwavering policy of placing utmost importance on its comprehensive strategic partnership with China. He called for the early implementation of the Lào Cai–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng railway project, deeper cooperation in technology transfer, and the training of human resources in railway operations. He also urged the development of a dedicated railway industrial complex as a long-term cooperative objective.

Hà proposed organising mutual high-level visits and increasing exchanges between the two countries’ legislative bodies to reinforce strategic trust and practical collaboration. He also emphasized the need to promote balanced and sustainable bilateral trade, encouraging China to expand market access for Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products.

Further cooperation was suggested in the development of smart border gates, cross-border economic cooperation zones, and enhanced power grid connectivity. Hà also stressed science and technology, agriculture, and natural resource management as new pillars of growth, urging joint initiatives in high-tech agriculture, mutual recognition of quarantine standards, and national-level collaboration on emerging technologies.

Environmental issues also featured prominently, with the Vietnamese Deputy PM advocating closer cooperation on urban air quality, disaster mitigation, climate resilience, and broader environmental protection efforts. He underlined the importance of people-to-people ties, calling for greater engagement among youth, scientists, and entrepreneurs to strengthen bilateral goodwill.

Vice Chairman Wang Dongming welcomed and supported all proposals, affirming Việt Nam’s priority status in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy. He reiterated China’s firm backing for Việt Nam’s socialist development path and pledged to deepen legislative cooperation, particularly in Party building, law-making, and oversight.

Wang also reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing trade, expanding imports from Việt Nam, enhancing transport infrastructure, and encouraging high-quality investment. He noted shared interests in science and technology cooperation, including artificial intelligence, digital economy, commercial aircraft, and clean energy, all contributing to sustainable development in both countries.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Việt Nam–China relations, underscoring the importance of continued high-level dialogue, economic integration, and strategic connectivity to build a shared future of peace and prosperity.