Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of eight Southeast Asian Nations' railway groups attended the 42nd ASEAN Railways CEOs Conference that opened on Tuesday in central city of Đà Nẵng. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐÀ NẴNG — The 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Railways Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Conference opened in the central city of Đà Nẵng on Tuesday.

As many as 170 delegates and observers from the industry in eight ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Việt Nam, are participating in the three-day event.

Addressing the conference, Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) General Director Đặng Sỹ Mạnh said it had applied many flexible measures to successfully organise international rail freight services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Developing rail freight services is not only a temporary solution during the pandemic but also a long-term orientation of Việt Nam’s railway industry," he said, adding that it would contribute to promoting trade and socio-economic development between countries in the region and the world.

According to Mạnh, the corporation has been tasked with finalising solutions for the implementation of the railway development plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050, aiming to effectively exploit existing railway lines and connect with international ones.

Priority will be given to building new rail lines that link with international gateway ports, especially in the northern coastal city of Hải Phòng and southeastern province, as well as with those of Laos and Cambodia.

Within the framework of the event, the delegates will visit Đà Nẵng Station to learn about the VNR’s operation and Hội An town to learn about Vietnamese culture, country and people.

The 42nd ASEAN Railway CEOs’ Conference is an annual and rotary activity hosted by railway sectors of ASEAN countries. It offers an opportunity for international organisations, regional and the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of railway equipment to seek cooperation opportunities and represent the latest technologies in the field. — VNS