Two major Chinese groups, including China Railway Group Limited (CREC) and Power China, expressed their interest in getting involved in infrastructure projects in Vietnam during their meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in China on Saturday.

The meetings took place on the occasion of the Vietnamese government leader’s attendance at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Saturday and Sunday.

Chen Yun, chairman of the executive board of CREC, said the group is the contractor of the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway project in Hanoi, a wind power project in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, and a tire factory in southern Tien Giang Province, with the contract value of US$640 million, $18.1 million, and $5 million, respectively.

He expressed his interest in engaging in the construction of approved railway projects in Vietnam.

In response, PM Chinh acknowledged CREC’s operation experiences in Vietnam, affirming that the Vietnamese government welcomes foreign enterprises, including those from China, to expand investment and business in the Southeast Asian nation.

Vietnam considers the development of infrastructure, including traffic facilities, as one of its strategic breakthroughs.

The Vietnamese government chief and the CREC chairman also discussed a plan to develop the 388-kilometer Hanoi-Lao Cai-Hai Phong railway in northern Vietnam.

Wang Xiaojun, deputy general manager of Power China, also revealed the firm’s plans to invest in power and infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

PM Chinh hailed Power China’s global business activities and its investment and business projects in Vietnam, saying the plans were in line with Vietnam’s strategic breakthroughs in infrastructure, including traffic and energy infrastructure.

He asked Power China to further work with Vietnamese agencies to execute projects, especially wind and solar power ones, in the spirit of harmonizing interests and sharing risks.

The Vietnamese official also welcomed Power China to join express railway projects in Vietnam in a feasible and effective manner.

During meetings with the two groups’ leaders, PM Chinh also emphasized the cooperation in conducting infrastructure projects linking the two countries, including high-speed railways, in which the two groups expressed their interest.

He suggested CREC and Power China work with the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises to further discuss the cooperation possibility.

Such projects will contribute to enhancing the trade cooperation between the two countries, PM Chinh said.

However, the firms have to ensure the progress, quality, and safety of projects as well as environmental protection.

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