Hanoi is looking to deepen cooperation with the Republic of Korea in urban railway development, technology transfer and workforce training as the Vietnamese capital accelerates plans to expand its public transport network.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting on June 10 between Mr. Truong Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, and Mr. Hong Jee Sun, South Korea's Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Dung said Hanoi views digital transformation and the knowledge economy as key drivers of future growth and is keen to strengthen collaboration with South Korean partners in human resource development, technology transfer and governance capacity building.
Under its master plan, Hanoi aims to develop 18 urban railway lines with a combined length of approximately 979 kilometers. However, only about 21.5 kilometers have been completed and put into operation so far, representing just 2.1% of the planned network. City officials said the gap presents significant opportunities for cooperation with experienced international partners, including South Korean railway companies.
Hanoi has welcomed South Korean participation through various investment models, including public-private partnerships (PPP), direct investment, and contractor or consortium arrangements, he said.
For his part, Second Vice Minister Hong said South Korea is eager to share its expertise in urban railway development and rail industry growth, highlighting the country's achievements in the sector over recent decades.
He also expressed South Korea’s interest in participating from the early stages of Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway project, including pre-feasibility studies.
The two sides also discussed opportunities to cooperate on research and investment preparation for future urban railway lines in Hanoi.
Google translate