Chairman of the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Dai Hegen has expressed his wish to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to join in a large-scale project designed to connect three northern Vietnamese localities with Kunming City in southern China.

The meeting was held in Kunming on Wednesday as part of PM Chinh’s trip to China for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit and other meetings from Tuesday to Friday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang.

Lauding CRCC’s efficient international activities and welcoming their plan on expansion to Vietnam, the prime minister encouraged CRCC to engage in several major railway projects already in motion as part of their railway development cooperation.

One of the most significant projects from these collaborations is a proposed railway connecting Kunming City in China’s Yunnan Province with Lao Cai Province, Hanoi, and Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam, with an estimated investment of US$10 billion.

After briefing PM Chinh on CRCC’s expertise in railway and road construction, chairman Dai expressed interest in having the corporation participate in the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, which includes a 380-kilometer segment in Vietnam, according to VnExpress.

PM Chinh told the CRCC leader that this project is expected to begin in December 2025 and take three years to finish.  

Chairman Dai told PM Chinh that CRCC will prepare all necessary documents related to the project and submit them to Vietnamese authorities for consideration and approval. 

To ensure the project can break ground in December next year, the CRCC chairman recommended that the Vietnamese side expedite and streamline relevant administrative procedures and cooperate with China’s high-ranking leaders to provide favorable conditions for the project. 

Based on cooperation with Vietnam's partners, CRCC will promote technology transfer, human resource training, and operational management regarding the project.

Highly appreciating CRCC’s contributions to the railway development in Vietnam over the past years, PM Chinh said the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project will serve as one of the vital routes connecting the two countries.

Chairman Dai confirmed that CRCC is also interested in the urban railway project in Ho Chi Minh City and the North-South high-speed railway project.

CRCC is ready to cooperate with Vietnamese partners to win and grow together while jointly contributing to Vietnam’s infrastructure improvement, he added.

He underlined that this project will not only facilitate the realization of China’s Belt and Road Initiative but also significantly contribute to the economic development of China’s Yunnan Province and Vietnam’s northern border provinces. 

PM Chinh asserted that the implementation of the project will follow Vietnam's procedures and regulations, but the government will make efforts to ensure all relevant steps are carried out quickly and efficiently.

He urged CRCC to collaborate with Vietnamese agencies to expedite the necessary work for the project and submit it to relevant authorities for review.

He also encouraged CRCC to consider participating in other projects, including the Hanoi-Lang Son railway, the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong rail line, and several freeway projects connecting Vietnam’s border provinces with China.

According to the Vietnam Government Portal, CRCC is a state-owned enterprise under China's Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

They have experience in building 20,000 kilometers of railways and 8,000 kilometers of expressways in China, plus 9,000 kilometers of international railways. 

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