China and Vietnam to study standard-gauge link

A proposal for a new standard-gauge line linking China’s national railway network with cities in northern Vietnam has been included in a bilateral memorandum of understanding on trade which was signed on November 13 as part of the state visit of Chinese president Mr Xi Jinping to Vietnam.

According to a statement issued by the Chinese government, the two sides will “complete the design of a standard-gauge railway” connecting Hekou in China’s southern Yunnan province with Lao Kai, Vietnam’s capital Hanoi and the port of Hai Phong.

China extended its network to within a few kilometres of the border in December 2014 with the opening of the 142km line from Mengzi to Hekou.