The Korean Railroad Corporation has been invited to conduct a feasibility study for a project building a 500 km railway from the Vung Ang Economic Zone in north-central Ha Tinh province to the Lao capital of Vientiane.

The funding for the study will come out of non-refundable aid provided by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

A representative from KOICA told VET that a delegation from the Korean Railroad Corporation, including the general director and three deputy general directors as well as three researchers from the University of Seoul, will come to Vietnam on July 17 to discuss the study with the Ministry of Transport. A memorandum of understanding between the two parties is expected to signed on July 21.

The Corporation is to create a basic plan for the construction of the railway, support the development of technical and bidding documents, train staff in the railway sectors of Vietnam and Laos, and provide technical advice on project management.

“This is considered an important step for South Korea to transfer railways technologies and techniques to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Laos,” Director of International Relations at the Corporation, Mr. Oh Chae-wook, said.

Last October Vietnam and South Korea signed an agreement on financial cooperation in the project and other railway projects, such as the Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang high-speed railway and Metro Line No. 5 in Ho Chi Minh City.