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.