Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính presides over the meeting of the national steering committee for key railway projects on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính ordered ministries, departments and localities to take the initiative in railway development through concrete actions and official documents without hesitation or avoidance of responsibility. 

He was chairing the third meeting of the national steering committee for key projects in the railway sector on Wednesday. Held in a hybrid format, the meeting brought together government officials and local leaders to review task completion in the first half of 2025.  

The Government leader noted that Việt Nam has seen positive socio-economic results with a 7.52 per cent growth rate, the highest since 2011, alongside stable macroeconomy and controlled inflation.

However, achieving the national annual growth target of 8 per cent or more remains challenging.

Authorities at all levels and sectors must remain highly determined, make greater efforts and act more decisively to meet growth goals, said PM Chính. 

Railway development is one of the strategic breakthroughs outlined at the 13th National Party Congress. 

Việt Nam aims to begin construction for sections of the North-South high-speed rail; integrate the transportation networks with economic zones, industrial parks, airports and seaports; and accelerate the development of urban railway lines in Hà Nội and HCM City to alleviate congestion in these major cities. 

These missions align with Politburo Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW, which sets the development directions for the national railway system up to 2030, with a vision to 2050. The goal is to build a modern and synchronised network that drives fast, sustainable socio-economic development and turns Việt Nam into a high-income country by 2045. 

PM Chính underscored that rail transport plays a key role along the north-south economic corridor, the east-west transport corridors, as well as in urban passenger transport. 

The National Assembly (NA) passed various resolutions on the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway, the Lào Cai–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng railway line and special mechanisms to develop the metro networks in Hà Nội and HCM City.

Notably, the legislative body adopted the amended Railway Law at its recent ninth session, introducing strategic mechanisms to maximise resources for railway development in the near future.

At the local level, PM Chính stressed the importance of land clearance compensation, support and resettlement. Local authorities are required to compile reports on their progress in this aspect. 

Following the second meeting of this steering committee in April 2025, Government leaders have assigned a total of 48 tasks to ministries, sectors and localities to address obstacles and expedite preparations for investment. 

So far, 23 have been completed, 17 are being carried out under regular supervision, and seven are behind schedule. One other task has not yet reached its deadline. 

The Government has also issued an official document to implement the NA’s Resolution 187 on investment in the Lào Cai–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng railway project. Committees in charge of land clearance have been established in localities where the project passes through.

The Ministry of Construction provided advice to the Government in submitting the revised Railway Law to the NA for approval.  

It has also submitted draft documents on selection criteria for organisations and enterprises providing industrial railway goods and services; on the list of railway industrial goods and services to be assigned to these companies; and on implementing the NA’s Resolution 188 regarding special mechanisms for Hà Nội and HCM City’s urban railway development; along with a plan for developing the sector’s human resources.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment has submitted a draft decree on temporary forest use, which is being revised based on cabinet members’ feedback.  

The Ministry of Science and Technology has finalised a draft decree on promoting railway science and technology development to soon submit to the Government. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has completed a proposal for the railway industry development and is also finalising procedures for submission to the Prime Minister. — VNS