Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the importance of expediting the progress of several crucial railway initiatives, such as the North–South high-speed railway and the Lao Cai–Ha Noi–Hai Phong line.
He also emphasized the need for planning the Ha Noi–Lang Son and Hai Phong–Mong Cai routes, as well as developing urban railway systems in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
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Leading a gathering of permanent Government officials in Ha Noi, the Prime Minister examined the advancements made and stressed the need for quicker execution of several important railway ventures, such as the high-speed North-South railway, the Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong line, the Ha Noi-Lang Son and Hai Phong-Mong Cai route planning, and urban railway systems in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The Government official recognized that there has been better progress since the seventh meeting of the Steering Committee for important national railway projects. They mentioned that tasks are now being completed more efficiently and proactively, leading to greater effectiveness. He stated that both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have made proactive and prompt efforts to progress their urban railway initiatives.
He emphasized that ministries and local governments need to exert more effort and improve their proactiveness, flexibility, and efficiency in overcoming obstacles following higher-level guidance to speed up the project's advancement.
In the future, the Prime Minister requested the prompt finalization of railway standards, criteria, and procedures that align with international practices while being customized for the specific conditions of Vietnam, aiming to guarantee consistent and well-coordinated implementation across the country.
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He emphasized the importance of completing projects timely and following regulations, along with enhancing quality and ensuring appropriate funding. Strict inspection, supervision, and auditing measures were ordered to be implemented throughout the project, with a strong stance against corruption, unethical behavior, and conflicts of interest.
Local officials were advised to expedite the process of clearing land and relocating people to ensure that the residents affected by this enjoy improved living conditions, including better infrastructure, environment, and ways of making a living.
The Ministry of Construction and the Viet Nam Railways Corporation were assigned the responsibility of creating specific plans for training their workforce to meet the needs of development. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of seeking different sources of funding such as public investment, private capital, public-private partnerships, loans, and bonds, without wasting resources. He also instructed the use of innovative construction technologies to accelerate project completion and enhance project quality.
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The Ministry of Construction was tasked with providing clear recommendations on technology selection, establishing standards, and completing the feasibility study for the North–South high-speed railway to assist in the selection of investors, consultants, and contractors.
According to the Prime Minister, local areas involved in the Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong railway project need to speed up the process of obtaining land and finish the feasibility study by March. They should also focus on improving the connecting infrastructure. Local areas were encouraged to back the planning efforts for the Ha Noi–Lang Son railway.
Furthermore, arrangements need to be completed to appoint a local government entity as the overseeing agency for the Hai Phong–Ha Long–Mong Cai route, with assistance from the Departments of Construction and Finance as necessary. Most barriers related to urban rail routes in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City have been resolved, however, any remaining challenges need to be swiftly eliminated, with the Ministry of Finance providing support in addressing issues related to securing loans.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City should focus on projects that connect Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat international airports with the city center as a top priority. He further stated that inspections and supervision must be carried out by relevant agencies for the Ben Thanh–Can Gio and Ha Noi–Quang Ninh lines, which are privately funded.
They should also propose suitable mechanisms and policies to the authorities with the necessary competence.
The Ministry of Finance was tasked with speeding up the restructuring plan for the Viet Nam Railways Corporation, while the Ministry of Industry and Trade was instructed to complete the approval process for a railway industry development scheme by March 2026 and to keep suggesting appropriate policy measures.