Introduction
China’s pursuit of better connectivity within its borders and with neighboring countries has taken a new stride forward. On Tuesday, workers began laying tracks on China’s first direct high-speed railway link to Vietnam. A track-laying machine put down a 500-meter-long track, according to the domestic media outlet CGTN.
Background of the Project
The high-speed railway between Fangchenggang and Dongxing in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is not merely a means of transportation; it’s a symbol of growing collaboration between China and Southeast Asia. Spanning 46.9 kilometers, this railway line is designed to run at 200 km per hour with infrastructure allowing an upgrade to 250 km per hour in the future.
Connectivity and Economic Benefits
The railway corridor will make travel between the Beibu Gulf economic zone and the Greater Bay Area and ASEAN markets easier and faster. This project could signify a new era of business opportunities and cross-border exchange between China and Vietnam.
1. Beibu Gulf Economic Zone Connection
Beibu Gulf economic zone is one of the rapidly growing economic regions in China. The new railway will facilitate a closer connection between this area and the Greater Bay Area, a megalopolis that consists of several key cities and special administrative regions in South China.
2. Strengthening Ties with ASEAN
The railway will also make travel and trade with ASEAN markets more efficient. This comes as a part of China’s commitment to strengthen its relationship with the ASEAN community.
Timeline and Features
The Fangchenggang-Dongxing Railway is expected to see all tracks laid by the end of September. The anticipated operational date is by the end of December, a testament to China’s rapid development pace.
The railway will cut travel time between the two places from 60 minutes to 20 minutes, enhancing accessibility to Dongxing, a border city. Additionally, it will link the city to the country’s sprawling 42,000-km high-speed railway network.
China’s High-Speed Railway Network: An Overview
The current high-speed railway infrastructure is part of China’s broader strategy to improve transportation across the country. The network’s success story includes the China-Laos Railway, handling 19 million passengers and 23 million tons of cargo in its first 20 months of operation.
This railway has already had a significant impact on cross-border trade, handling 2.5 million tons of goods, including tropical fruit, iron ore, cassava flour, and rubber, from January 1 to August 3.
Inspiration for Regional Development
The success of the China-Laos Railway has inspired other regional countries, including Vietnam. Calls have been rising in Vietnam to build a North-South express railway that connects its capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
In November last year, China and Vietnam announced joint efforts to speed up the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway project, including discussions on revision of the 1992 bilateral railway agreement and consensus on the connectivity plan.
Vietnam’s Decades-long Hesitation and a New Beginning
The move is seen by Chinese experts as an end to Vietnam’s decades-long hesitation over whether to connect with China using a standard-gauge railway system. This was different from the country’s meter-gauge railway, and the decision has been seen as a landmark in China-Vietnam relations.
Conclusion
The Fangchenggang-Dongxing Railway’s commencement is more than a domestic project for China; it is a symbol of burgeoning collaboration and regional integration with Southeast Asia. The railway is poised to boost the economy, improve the flow of goods, and perhaps most significantly, strengthen ties between China and its neighbors.
This new railway link to Vietnam underlines China’s commitment to fostering a more interconnected world and aligns with the country’s long-term goals of regional cooperation, economic development, and diplomatic relationships. It’s a shining example of the potential benefits that infrastructure development can bring to a region, inspiring other nations to consider similar initiatives.
The project’s successful completion by the end of the year will be eagerly watched by the international community, as it will signify not just a triumph in engineering but a step forward in a new era of cooperation and growth for both China and Vietnam.
Read More: