Vietnam – Guangxi trade exceeds 42 billion USD: Growth from infrastructure connection

(Chinhphu.vn) - On November 26, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Construction, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh received and worked with Mr. Vi Thao, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China).

Minister Tran Hong Minh assessed that the cooperation between Vietnam and Guangxi in recent times has been extremely vibrant and effective.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Tran Hong Minh said that Vietnam - Guangxi trade turnover in 2024 will reach 42 billion USD, an increase of 16.4% over the previous year; in the first 9 months of 2025, it will continue to reach 32.8 billion USD, an increase of 8.2%, accounting for about 20% of the total Vietnam - China trade turnover.

19 freight routes and 23 passenger routes

Regarding transport connectivity, since 2013, the two countries have negotiated and completed the construction of Ta Lung 2 road bridge in Cao Bang and Bac Luan 2 bridge in Quang Ninh. There are currently 19 freight routes and 23 passenger routes through 5 pairs of border gates connecting Vietnam - Guangxi and through Guangxi to other localities of China.

Since May 25, 2025, the railway industry of the two countries has restored international passenger train operations between Vietnam and China via the Dong Dang railway border gate. The volume of goods transported by rail via the Dong Dang - Bang Tuong international border gate in 2024 will reach 394 thousand tons, and in the first 10 months of 2025, it will reach 698.4 thousand tons.

"These figures affirm the role of Guangxi as Vietnam's most important transport gateway to China," Minister Tran Hong Minh emphasized.

However, the export of agricultural products through the Dong Dang railway border gate is still stuck because Bang Tuong station has not yet arranged quarantine, forcing goods to be transshipped through Po Chai, increasing costs. Vietnam has asked Guangxi to recommend China to soon invest in a quarantine system right at Bang Tuong station to facilitate trade.

Mr. Vi Thao thanked the Ministry of Construction for the warm welcome to the working delegation.

Also at the meeting, Mr. Vi Thao, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction for the warm welcome. He also thanked the Ministry of Construction and Minister Tran Hong Minh for always attaching importance to the practical cooperation between Vietnam and Guangxi.

Reopening Nanning- Hanoi flight route

According to Mr. Vi Thao, in recent years, under the strategic direction of the two Parties and two States and strong support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction, cooperation in connecting transport infrastructure between Vietnam and Guangxi has achieved many outstanding results.

Regarding railways, the Vietnam-China international train route has been restored and operated stably, serving more than 10,000 passengers. Regarding expressways, currently 7/11 land border gates have been connected to the expressway system.

In addition, the Gulf of Tonkin Port (Guangxi) has opened 34 container shipping routes connecting to 5 ports in Vietnam. From Nanning City, flights have been opened to Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. Since the beginning of the year, about 40,000 passengers have been transported. In the near future, it is expected that flights from Nanning to Hanoi will be reopened.

According to Mr. Vi Thao, these achievements were achieved thanks to the attention and support of the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction. This is an important foundation for the two sides to continue to deepen their cooperation in the coming time.

At the meeting, Mr. Vi Thao, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, made a number of proposals hoping to receive attention and support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction in the coming time. In particular, he suggested that both sides prioritize the construction of the standard gauge railway from Dong Dang to Hanoi, and coordinate to synchronously implement projects related to the Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong railway.

In addition, Guangxi wants to speed up the construction of the Tra Linh - Dong Dang expressway and the expressway section from Chi Lang to Huu Nghi border gate, and at the same time study and plan additional expressways connecting with Guangxi.

In addition, Mr. Vi Thao also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of seaport operations, transport route exploitation and logistics, promoting the development coordination between inland waterway transport and maritime transport of the two sides. At the same time, he hoped that the Vietnamese side would continue to support the construction of the Sino-Vietnamese Joint Laboratory (signed between the Guangxi Beibu Gulf Investment Group and Hanoi University of Civil Engineering) on ​​smart disaster prevention technology in transport, as well as infrastructure maintenance and exploitation techniques.

Regarding the cooperation contents proposed by Guangxi, Minister Tran Hong Minh said that currently, the Chinese Government is supporting Vietnam in planning the standard gauge railway lines Dong Dang - Hanoi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong.

Vietnam is also preparing a pre-feasibility study report for these two railway lines, as a basis for submitting to the National Assembly for consideration and approval of investment policies, with the goal of starting construction before 2030.

Regarding the Tra Linh - Dong Dang expressway projects and the Chi Lang - Huu Nghi border gate section, the Minister emphasized that these are important projects not only for Vietnam but also contribute to strengthening the connection of the Vietnam - Guangxi border area, creating favorable conditions for the circulation of goods, trade, tourism and economic cooperation between the two sides.

The Minister also appreciated the role of the Gulf of Tonkin Port (Guangxi) - one of China's major international transit ports, with a network connecting more than 200 ports worldwide.

The Ministry of Construction supports the two countries' shipping enterprises to increase the frequency of container transport routes between the Gulf of Tonkin Port and Hai Phong Port as well as other major ports in Vietnam; research and report to competent authorities on the pilot model of combined inland waterway and sea transport on the Nanning - Can Tho route; promote investment cooperation, logistics and warehousing at deep-water ports in Vietnam, on the basis of compliance with the laws of each country, in accordance with Vietnam's international commitments and international practices.

Regarding the construction of the Sino-Vietnamese Joint Laboratory, Minister Tran Hong Minh welcomed the cooperation between the Gulf of Tonkin Investment Group and the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. This is a strategic field, in line with Vietnam's priority orientation on digital transformation, sustainable infrastructure development and science and technology capacity building.

Also at the working session, leaders of the two sides witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between Vietnam National Shipping Lines and Bac Bo Gulf Port Group.

PT

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thuong-mai-viet-nam-quang-tay-vuot-42-ty-usd-tang-truong-tu-ket-noi-ha-tang-102251126204012252.htm