Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) and China's Guangzhou Metro Group (GMG) have signed a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in railway operations, urban rail transit management and workforce training, supporting Vietnam's ongoing railway modernization efforts.
The agreement was signed in Hanoi on June 1 during a visit by a delegation from Guangzhou, led by Vice Mayor Lai Zhihong.
Under the partnership, the two sides will cooperate in the management, operation and maintenance of electrified railways and urban rail systems, while also expanding training programs for railway personnel.
VNR said the two companies are currently working together on a proposal to provide operational management services for a planned light rail line in Phu Quoc island, Vietnam's southern An Giang province. The partnership could also extend to other railway projects, including the Bau Bang–Cai Mep railway corridor and broader human resource development initiatives for Vietnam's rail sector.
As part of the new agreement, VNR has requested that Guangzhou Metro share its expertise in operating intercity rail networks, managing standard-gauge electrified railways with speeds of up to 200 kph, developing transit-oriented development (TOD) models, and building smart railway systems.
Guangzhou Metro has already been involved in several rail projects in Vietnam, including feasibility studies and design consulting for Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line 2 and Metro Line 4, as well as design consultancy work for the proposed Phu Quoc light rail project.
