Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) had talks with Chairman of China Railway Group Limited (CREC) Chen Yun on Saturday in Nanning. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

NANNING — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính met with leaders of several leading Chinese conglomerates in Nanning city, China’s Guangxi province, on September 16 on the occasion of his attendance at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) there.

Receiving Chairman of the Executive Board of China Railway Chen Yun, PM Chính praised the company’s global reach and sustainability with 381 branches in 105 countries.

Chen said the company is now the main contractor of several urban railway projects in Hà Nội and wind power projects in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông, and a tire manufacturing plant in Việt Nam's southern province of Tiền Giang. He expressed interest in engaging in the construction of transportation projects in Việt Nam, such as the North-South and the Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng express railways, and the Hà Nội urban metro line.

To develop infrastructure, PM Chính said Việt Nam is stepping up public-private partnership, striving to have 5,000km of highways, complete the first stage of the Long Thành international airport and 1,700km of coastal roads from Quảng Ninh to Cà Mau by 2030.

According to him, Việt Nam plans to build railway lines such as the Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng with a total length of roughly 388km and a cost of US$11 billion, the Vũng Áng-Laos with the section in Việt Nam stretching 103km and costing $1.6 billion, and the Hà Nội-HCM City line with length of 1,545km and a combined investment of some $62 billion.

The Vietnamese leader welcomed the Chinese enterprises and the China Railway in particular to expand their operation in Việt Nam in the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks.

He suggested the China Railway continue working with relevant Vietnamese ministries and localities to develop new projects in Việt Nam, including the Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng express railway linking with the Kunming-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng economic corridor.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính receives Wang Xiaojun, Deputy General Manager of Power China, in Nanning. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

In a reception for Wang Xiaojun, Deputy General Manager of Power China which ranked 100th on the Fortune Global 500 list and 29th among the top 500 Chinese enterprises in 2022, PM Chính hailed the company’s plan to expand operations in energy in Việt Nam in the near future, especially in wind power and liquefied natural gas electricity projects.

The Vietnamese Government commits to create all possible support to Chinese firms and the Power China in particular, he said, adding that it recently approved the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-30 period with a vision to 2050, with renewable energy sources, especially onshore and offshore wind power, being a foundation of Việt Nam's long-term energy security.

He suggested that the Power China explore cooperation in Việt Nam's priority areas, including infrastructure - one of Việt Nam's three strategic breakthroughs. Specifically, he proposed exploring the possibility of investing in China-Quảng Ninh-Hải Phòng and Lạng Sơn-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng railway lines, with the commitment to translating these ideas into concrete actions and achieving tangible results. — VNS