Vietnam opens rail crossings

Vietnam opens rail crossings

HANOI (AFP): Vietnam and China are expecting to open their
cross border railroads by the lunar new year holidays in
February, renewing links severed 16 years ago, a report said
yesterday.

Since the reopening of the line was agreed during a visit last
month to Beijing by Communist Party General Secretary Do Muoi,
additional facilities have been installed at railway stations on
the Vietnamese side, the Vietnam Investment Review said.

Two rail crossings will be opened along the border between Lao
Cai province in Vietnam and Yunnan in China, and between Lang Son
and Guangxi provinces.

Vo Hong Phuc, Vietnam's deputy minister of planning and
investment, said the links could be re-established by the Tet
lunar new year holidays that begin on Feb. 19.

Safety checks and work on a US$770,000 upgrade of the railway
station in Lao Cai province will need to be completed before the
lines can be restored.