At a daily news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, “Since last year, China and Vietnam have exchanged views on multiple occasions on enhancing railway connectivity between the two countries.”

“The two sides agreed to accelerate the feasibility study of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong standard gauge railway, speed up the planning of the Dong Dang-Hanoi and the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong standard gauge railways, and advance the building of a railway connection between Hekou in China and Lao Cai in Vietnam,” Guo noted.

According to Chinese media, the newly approved railway project will significantly increase trade between China and Vietnam and connectivity between China and Southeast Asia.