Hà Nội Metro Line 3's S8 Station. The urban railway receives funding from France, which is seeking to deepen cooperation with Việt Nam in the sector. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — France and Việt Nam are seeking to deepen bilateral cooperation in railway and urban mobility development as the Southeast Asian country accelerates plans for metro systems and a landmark North-South high-speed railway project to reshape its transport infrastructure.

The push was highlighted at the first France-Việt Nam Forum on Railways and Urban Mobility held by Business France under the France–Việt Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework on May 8 in Hà Nội.

The forum brought together Vietnamese policymakers, transport authorities, investors and French companies specialising in rail infrastructure, signalling systems, rolling stock, operations and financing.

French participants included ACC M/Lorrainfer, Alstom, Artelia, Certifer, Compagnie des Signaux, Dassault Systèmes (3DS), EPC Groupe, FPT Railway Mobility Technology, Laco Industries, Neotec, NGE Group, Saint-Gobain, SNCF International, Systra, Texelis and Vossloh.

According to Vietnam Railway Authority Deputy General Director Dương Hồng Anh, Việt Nam is pursuing an ambitious expansion of its transport network, including urban metro projects in major cities and a planned high-speed railway linking Hà Nội and HCM City.

These projects will require significant financial resources, technology transfer, technical standards, workforce training and international cooperation.

Anh said French companies’ participation reflects growing interest in Việt Nam’s railway market and long-term cooperation potential.

He noted that cooperation is expected to go beyond technology supply to include technology transfer, planning, personnel training and support for Việt Nam to gradually master railway operation technologies and participate more deeply in the supply chain.

French Ambassador to Việt Nam Olivier Brochet said railway transport has become a priority area in bilateral cooperation.

The commitment was reaffirmed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Việt Nam in May last year, when the two countries signed agreements to strengthen cooperation in railway project management training and transport development, he said.

“Placing rail transport at the heart of our bilateral cooperation is a natural choice, given the longstanding ties between France and Việt Nam in this field, the ongoing joint projects, notably Hà Nội Metro Line 3, and the recognised French expertise in both long-distance rail and urban transport systems,” Brochet said.

“With its experience in high-speed rail development and urban transport systems, France is ready to share expertise, technology and management models with Việt Nam,” he added.

Brochet highlighted France’s experience operating a 2,700km high-speed rail network and developing the Grand Paris Express, Europe’s largest metro construction project, which has more than 200km of new automated lines.

At a meeting with the French business delegation on May 7, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyễn Tường Văn said that railway development is a priority in Việt Nam’s national infrastructure strategy.

The country’s railway development plan for 2021–2030 focuses on the North–South high-speed railway project, urban railways in Hà Nội and HCM City, and key regional connections, such as the Hà Nội–Lào Cai–Hải Phòng corridor, Văn said.

Việt Nam hopes to learn from countries with advanced railway industries, such as France, as it moves forward with large-scale rail investments that require substantial financial resources, special policy mechanisms, technical standards, workforce training and technology transfer, he added.

Expressing interest in Việt Nam’s North-South high-speed railway project, president of SNCF International Diego Diaz said the 1,540km project linking Hà Nội and HCM City with trains running at speeds of up to 350km per hour would play a strategic role in the country’s transport infrastructure.

It would likely become a new socio-economic growth driver for decades, he noted, adding that the project would help strengthen regional connectivity, reduce development gaps and provide a greener and safer transport option amid growing climate concerns.

SNCF stands ready to share its technical expertise and support Việt Nam in implementing its ambitious railway projects, he said. — VNS