Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the meeting (Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV)

Chairing a meeting on Tuesday to review implementation of the North–South high-speed railway, the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong line, and several lines connecting with China, PM Chinh asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with relevant Chinese agencies to recommend Chinese consulting firms to form joint ventures with Vietnamese consultants for technical design. The Ministry of Construction is assigned to coordinate with local authorities to clear sites for the projects, and the Ministry of Finance will discuss preferential loans for the projects with the Chinese side. A fund of 21.6 billion USD will be established for projects related to science, technology, railways, and strategic infrastructure. Mr Chinh said: "Capital mobilization must be grounded in domestic financial capacity, complemented by funding from commercial banks. We also need to focus on technology transfer to advance the railway sector, particularly in locomotive manufacturing and control systems. A detailed plan is necessary to train skilled workers and engineers to enable Vietnam to build and maintain its own railway industry."

PM Chinh asked the Ministry of Construction to discuss with the VinSpeed Company its proposed involvement in the North–South high-speed railway project.