PM leads newly-formed steering committee for key railway projects

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leads a steering committee for key national railway projects, while Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha serves as the committee's standing deputy head, and Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh as deputy heads.

Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision establishing a steering committee for key national railway projects, with himself acting as its head.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha serves as the committee's standing deputy head, while Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh take on roles as deputy heads.

The committee includes leaders from key ministries, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the Vietnam Railway Corportation.

Under Decision No. 609/QD-TTg, the steering committee will oversee major railway developments, including the North-South high-speed railway, key interprovincial routes such as Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong, Hanoi–Lang Son, and Mong Cai–Ha Long, as well as urban railway projects in Hanoi and HCM City. It will have the authority to expand its project portfolio by adding key railway projects to the list of urban railway initiatives in Hanoi and HCM City whenever necessary to ensure effective oversight and coordination.

thu-tuong-chu-tri-phien-hop-lan-thu-tu-cua-tieu-ban-kinh-te-xa-hoi-1303-5.jpg
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA)

The committee is tasked with advising the Prime Minister on key policies and solutions to accelerate the progress of major railway projects, particularly the urban railway developments in the two major cities.

It will oversee the coordination of various ministries, sectors, and local authorities to ensure that all investment and construction activities align with the resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government.

The Ministry of Construction will serve as the standing body of the steering committee, responsible for drafting operational regulations, assisting the development of work plans, and preparing materials and reports for both regular and ad hoc meetings. It will also consolidate overall activities and undertake additional tasks as assigned by the head of the committee.

Funding for the committee will be covered by the State budget, allocated within the regular operational budget of the Ministry of Construction, in accordance with Article 19 of Decision No. 23/2023/QD-TTg, issued on June 18, 2023 by the Prime Minister./.

VNA

See more

Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha (R) and Vice Chairman of the Champasak provincial Administrative Committee Phimpone Phandanuvong sign an MoU on cooperation between the two localities for the 2026-2030 period. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City-Champasak cooperation: A bright spot in Vietnam-Laos local ties

Cooperation priorities for the 2026-2030 period will cover trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, finance, education and human resources training, and socio-cultural affairs, with a focus on business connectivity, trade and investment promotion, tourism development, and support for education and human resources training.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam (right) meets with Craig Bradshaw, CEO of EQ Resources Limited of Australia. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader highlights strategic mineral, high-tech cooperation with Australian firms

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam received leaders of Australian businesses in Canberra on August 12 morning (local time), highlighting opportunities to expand cooperation in strategic mineral supply chains, high technology and innovation as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations enters a new phase.

Dr Nguyen Thi Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing and Sichuan (Photo published by VNA)

New impetus for overseas Vietnamese communities

On August 2, 2026, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam signed the resolution, marking an important shift after more than two decades of implementing Politburo Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW. It affirms that the overseas group is an inseparable part of the nation and one of the country’s important strategic resources, contributing to strengthening national collective power.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (centre) holds high-level phone talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten on August 11. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Netherlands to deepen cooperation, elevate Comprehensive Partnership

Congratulating the Netherlands on its achievements in socio-economic development and foreign affairs, PM Hung thanked the country for considering Vietnam as one of its leading strategic partners in the region under its new foreign policy. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to and wants to further deepen its multifaceted cooperation with the Netherlands.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Gau (right) and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael George DeSombre at their meeting on August 10 (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, US step up cooperation in search for missing Vietnamese soldiers

A Vietnamese official proposed that the US continue increasing resources for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa and Phu Cat airbases, expand projects supporting people with disabilities, enhance the sharing of historical data, provide DNA technology assistance and continue close coordination in the search for missing US service members and Vietnamese soldiers.

Trinh Van Quyet (left), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Publicity, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite at their meeting in Canberra on August 11, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Australia seek to forge stronger bonds

The two sides highlighted the progress in the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed measures to boost cooperation in areas with considerable potential, including communications, digital trade, cybersecurity, education and people-to-people exchanges.

The executive board of the Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association for the 2026–2031 term makes debut at the congress. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association looks to strengthen people-to-people ties

Nguyen Duc Loi, President of the Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association for the 2021–2026 term, said Vietnam–Spain relations have continued to develop positively across various fields, with political ties increasingly strengthened and cooperation in trade, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.