Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a Permanent Government meeting on North-South high-speed railway, Ha Noi, July 11, 2024 - Photo: VGP

Pham made the call at a meeting on Thursday to discuss investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project.

Deputy PMs Tran Hong Ha, Tran Luu Quang and Le Thanh Long, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh attended the meeting.

The project should prioritise the most efficient and shortest routes, designed to operate at speeds of 350km/h, Prime Minister Pham requested.

Earlier, in February 2023, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW detailing the development orientation of Viet Nam's railway transport to 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

The Politburo ordered that construction of the North-South expressway railway must start before 2030 so that it can be completed by 2045.

By 2025, all procedures to approve the investment policy of the north-south high-speed railway project must be completed.

In the 2026–2030 period, priority will be given to the two express railway sections of Ha Noi–Vinh, which connects the capital city of Ha Noi with Nghe An Province's Vinh town, the biggest city and economic and cultural center of north-central Viet Nam, and the Ho Chi Minh City–Nha Trang section, which links the nation's biggest city with the beach town of Nha Trang.

The Politburo identified the north-south high-speed railway as the "backbone" axis that will be connected with urban railways, major economic centers, seaports, airports, and international borders.

The total investment for the project is expected to be over US$58 billion./.