The Governments of China and Vietnam have partnered on an infrastructure project to build three standard gauge, high-speed rail (HSR) links, for streamlining logistics and improving rail freight transport between the two countries. Two of Vietnam’s existing rail lines will be converted to match the standard gauge used in China, while a third line will be constructed from scratch. This project is expected to enhance trade between China and Vietnam, which saw bilateral trade grow by over 20 per cent from January to July 2024, reaching USD145 billion.
These new railways will also form part of a broader route connecting China’s Kunming to Singapore, passing through Vietnam and continuing into Cambodia. China already has other rail connections to Singapore via Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar, which further integrate Southeast Asia’s transportation network.