{"id":21780,"date":"2025-04-21T10:39:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T03:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=21780"},"modified":"2025-04-21T10:39:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T03:39:55","slug":"global-times-practitioners-insights-a-light-rail-in-hanoi-weaves-china-vietnam-cordiality-highlighting-commitment-to-pursuing-friendship-with-neighbors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=21780","title":{"rendered":"Global Times: Practitioners&#8217; Insights: A light rail in Hanoi weaves China-Vietnam cordiality, highlighting commitment to pursuing friendship with neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-location\">BEIJING<\/span>, April 21, 2025 \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; &#8220;At present, <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> relations with its neighboring countries\u2002are\u2002at their\u2002best in modern\u2002times, and are\u2002also entering\u2002a critical phase\u2002of deep linkage between the regional landscape\u2002and the world changes&#8221; \u2013 the recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span> made such a profound judgment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Malaysia<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Cambodia<\/span> from <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 14 to 18<\/span>, highlighting the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in neighborhood relations. In the first volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span><\/i>, President Xi emphasized that <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is characterized by &#8220;amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the third installment of the &#8220;Decoding the Book of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8220;<\/i> series, the Global Times continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on the ideas of <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> neighborhood diplomacy, which emphasizes amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> advocacy for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries as well as its vision of creating a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.<\/p>\n<p>This is the third story of the &#8220;Practitioners&#8217; Insights&#8221; column, which tells the story of <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span>, a Vietnamese driver of the Hanoi Light Rail Line 2A and the Chinese company that undertook the construction of this line, to shed light on how a light rail strengthens the friendship between <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What we pursue is the wellbeing of both the Chinese people and the people of all other countries,&#8221; Xi Jinping, Chinese president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized in &#8220;<span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> Diplomacy Must Befit Its Major-Country Status&#8221; of the second volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>. <\/i>In <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>, a light rail line constructed by a Chinese company has transformed the lives of locals, demonstrating <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> commitment to pursuing shared wellbeing with people in neighboring countries.<\/p>\n<p><b>Chinese <\/b><b>&#8216;<\/b><b>kung fu<\/b><b>&#8216;<\/b><b>\u00a0under brimmed hat <\/b><\/p>\n<p>On the streets of <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>, the motorcycles are rumbling; above the hustle and bustle, an &#8220;iron dragon&#8221; shuttles along the elevated tracks in the city. The two are intertwined, forming the unique transportation network of this city. The Hanoi Light Rail Line 2A in <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, or Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line, is a main line in the urban rail network of <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>. About 13 kilometers long with 12 stations, the line uses Chinese technology and standards. Constructed by China Railway Sixth Group Viet Nam Co., Ltd, the line commenced operations in <span class=\"xn-chron\">November 2021<\/span>. As <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> first urban light rail, it stands as a testament to the deepening friendship between Chinese and Vietnamese people.<\/p>\n<p>At the starting station of the Hanoi Light Rail, Global Times reporters met <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span>. As one of the first light rail drivers in <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> is tall and clad in a crisp black uniform, a brimmed hat, a bright red tie, and spotless leather shoes. He is energetic \u2013 that&#8217;s the first impression of the reporters.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> guided the reporters into the driver&#8217;s cabin, a small space filled with various instruments and buttons, and introduced, &#8220;This is the core area of the main control console\u2026the sprinkler, the electric horn. Over there, those are the high acceleration and reset buttons.&#8221; With his hand on the joystick in the center of the command console, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> said &#8220;This is the main controller, just like the steering wheel of a train.&#8221; His adeptness was evident throughout the demonstration.<\/p>\n<p>In 2014, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> encountered an important opportunity in his life. The Hanoi Metro Company was selecting the first batch of drivers for the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line. He applied and was selected as one of 37 trainees. That year, 28-year-old <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> went to <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span> for training.<\/p>\n<p>The one-year intensive training on the Batong Line of Beijing Subway became unforgettable memory for him. &#8220;What struck me the most was the morning and evening rush hours \u2013 I never thought that the subway could carry so many passengers!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Upon arrival in <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, there were language difficulty and culture shock, making <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> even more grateful for his Chinese mentor, who provided meticulous help and patiently answered his questions on daily life as well as the training.<\/p>\n<p>The training had two parts: theory and operation. In theory classes, the teacher gave lectures and there were exams afterward. After passing the exams, the trainees entered operation phase, where one mentor instructed one trainee.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Zhang Yuelan, that is the name of my mentor,&#8221; <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> immediately responded when asked whether he still remembered the name of his Chinese mentor after a decade. &#8220;A\u00a0teacher for one day should be treated like a father for life. Receiving selfless teaching in a foreign country, I have always remembered this profound relationship.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Although the train was parked at the station, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung&#8217;s<\/span> eyes were closely fixed on the front during the conversation, maintaining vigilance at all times. His left hand rested near the walkie-talkie, and his right hand on the joystick \u2013 the mark left by his 10 years of experience, and it also stems from the teachings of his Chinese mentor on the concept of &#8220;responsibility.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We need to help neighbors in times of crisis, treat them as equals, visit them frequently, and take actions that will win us support and friendship,&#8221; Xi wrote on <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> neighborhood diplomacy in the first volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>. <\/i><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> is one of countless Vietnamese people who are hardworking, humble, carrying a dream of building a better future for their country. With the advancement of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span> practical cooperation, more and more people like him are able to realize their dreams. According to <span class=\"xn-person\">Wang Hongwei<\/span>, head of marketing department at China Railway Sixth Group Viet Nam Co., Ltd, more than 600 personnel from the Vietnamese operating company have been sent to <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> for training, including drivers, train attendants, and station maintainers.<\/p>\n<p><b>The fast and efficient &#8216;Chinese dragon&#8217; <\/b><\/p>\n<p>As of <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 1, 2025<\/span>, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line has transported approximately 35 million passengers. Among three subway lines opened in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Ho Chi Minh City<\/span> in <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, it has the shortest construction time, the lowest investment cost per kilometer, and the highest operational stability.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Deng Yan<\/span>, a native of <span class=\"xn-location\">Central China&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"xn-location\">Hunan Province<\/span>, witnessed the entire process of laying the track for this subway line. Deng joined the light rail project department in 2015 as an assistant translator, responsible for coordinating on-site construction scheduling, communicating with Vietnamese owners, supervision teams, and local residents, and handling various issues.<\/p>\n<p>What impressed Deng most was when they were erecting girders and building bridges. From mid-2015, the construction of the light rail entered a &#8220;tough battle&#8221; mode. &#8220;We began work after <span class=\"xn-chron\">10 pm<\/span> and kept working until <span class=\"xn-chron\">5 am<\/span> the next morning. Every night when I looked up, there were stars. It might sound romantic, but in reality, it was a &#8216;high-intensity&#8217; challenge \u2013 the schedule was tight, the task was heavy, and it felt like a war,&#8221; Deng recalled.<\/p>\n<p>From initial preparations to the erection of the last girder, Deng and his team worked for over a year. In <span class=\"xn-chron\">October 2016<\/span>, more than 800 girders were erected, and the entire line was completed. &#8220;At that moment, it was more than a sigh of relief for everyone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Erecting girders is like assembling building blocks. It requires a high level of technical expertise and involves considerable risks,&#8221; Deng explained. Factors such as thermal expansion and contraction due to the weather, height differences, gradients, and flatness, if only one parameter fails to meet the standard, it could potentially lead to a series of subsequent safety hazards. &#8220;Our construction error range is controlled within the millimeter level. If the girders are not properly erected, all the subsequent work will be in vain.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>On <span class=\"xn-chron\">November 6, 2021<\/span>, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line officially began operation. At the beginning of the construction, the project was once faced with some criticism from Western media. &#8220;Watching the train running in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> like a giant dragon, I am so proud of our country and Chinese company. All the hard work over the years was truly worthwhile,&#8221; Deng said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After the line was opened, the rumors collapsed on their own. On social media, Vietnamese netizens began comparing the three light rail lines built by <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Japan<\/span>, and <span class=\"xn-location\">France<\/span>: What was the cost per kilometer, how long the construction took, and so on. After all three lines were opened, the Vietnamese people can tell clearly who offers a lower price, which line has better performance, and who treats them with sincerity \u2013 they have a fair judgment in their hearts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>&#8216;Teach people how to fish&#8217; <\/b><\/p>\n<p>According to <span class=\"xn-person\">Wang Hongwei<\/span>, from the project&#8217;s approval to its delivery, they supported the Hanoi Railways Company Limited in every detail to ensure the smooth operation of the light rail. In addition to delivering equipment, the Chinese side also imparted a complete set of technologies and management models, demonstrating the true spirit of &#8220;teaching people how to fish.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We even planted trees and ensure they grow in the park area. Even though the project was delivered long ago, they still often come to us for help,&#8221; Wang said, jokingly comparing himself to a &#8220;24-hour after-sales service provider.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line was launched, people from the lines built by <span class=\"xn-location\">France<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Japan<\/span> also came to learn from us. Many of the Vietnamese drivers who were trained in <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> now hold leadership positions or serve as trainers on the other two lines. The concept of &#8216;teaching people how to fish&#8217; lives on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>At the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held on <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 8-9, 2025<\/span>, Xi highlighted that <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span>\u2002vast territory and long borders make its\u2002neighborhood\u2002a\u2002vital\u2002foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key front\u2002for safeguarding\u2002national security, a priority\u2002area\u2002in managing overall diplomacy, and a crucial link\u2002in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.<\/p>\n<p>This light rail in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> has significantly improved the lives of <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> residents. The most practical change is the convenience of travel &#8211; it took more than one or even two hours to travel the approximately 13-kilometer journey during the morning and evening rush hours, but now it only takes 20 minutes. Many residents have purchased monthly passes, and the commuting time from the suburbs to the city center has been cut by more than half.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Nguyen Thanh Ha<\/span>, a Vietnamese employee who has been working for China Railway Sixth Group Viet Nam Co., Ltd for 10 years, said that with the light rail, the surrounding commercial and residential areas saw rapid development, and the living standards of her family have improved accordingly. &#8220;We can get various services and goods more conveniently, and it has also brought more job opportunities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Reporters observed that many people on the light rail were traveling with family. Different from the &#8220;commuter trains&#8221; for office workers, there were many children aged four or five years old, and their laughter lit up the carriage.<\/p>\n<p>On the train, reporters met 73-year-old Vietnamese man, who called himself Dat, and his wife, who were chatting with friends and heading downtown for a leisurely outing. &#8220;Before the light rail, we rarely went to the downtown for fun because the transportation was really inconvenient,&#8221; Dat said. &#8220;It&#8217;s too dangerous for the elderly to ride a motorcycle. Thanks to the Chinese company for helping build the <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> light rail, which allows everyone to travel with peace of mind.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Construction of the <span class=\"xn-location\">Lao Cai<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Hai Phong<\/span> railway project linking <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> northern regions to <span class=\"xn-location\">Southwest China&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"xn-location\">Yunnan Province<\/span> will begin by the end of 2025, according to the Vietnam News Agency.<\/p>\n<p>Just like what Xi said in the second volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, <\/i>the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the connectivity endeavor are compatible and mutually reinforcing. If the Belt and the Road are likened to the two wings of a soaring <span class=\"xn-location\">Asia<\/span>, then connectivity represents its arteries and veins.<\/p>\n<p>Wang told the Global Times that the construction of the <span class=\"xn-location\">Lao Cai<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Haiphong<\/span> railway will accelerate integration between <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> BRI and <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and meet the demand for high-quality, fast, convenient and safe transportation. &#8220;As we often say, this is not just about building a railway; it is about paving the road of friendship between the two countries.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This article first appeared in Global Times: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globaltimes.cn\/page\/202504\/1332498.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.globaltimes.cn\/page\/202504\/1332498.shtml<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><!-- wp:html --><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-location\">BEIJING<\/span>, April 21, 2025 \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; &#8220;At present, <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> relations with its neighboring countries\u2002are\u2002at their\u2002best in modern\u2002times, and are\u2002also entering\u2002a critical phase\u2002of deep linkage between the regional landscape\u2002and the world changes&#8221; \u2013 the recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span> made such a profound judgment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Malaysia<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Cambodia<\/span> from <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 14 to 18<\/span>, highlighting the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in neighborhood relations. In the first volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span><\/i>, President Xi emphasized that <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is characterized by &#8220;amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the third installment of the &#8220;Decoding the Book of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8220;<\/i> series, the Global Times continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on the ideas of <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> neighborhood diplomacy, which emphasizes amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> advocacy for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries as well as its vision of creating a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.<\/p>\n<p>This is the third story of the &#8220;Practitioners&#8217; Insights&#8221; column, which tells the story of <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span>, a Vietnamese driver of the Hanoi Light Rail Line 2A and the Chinese company that undertook the construction of this line, to shed light on how a light rail strengthens the friendship between <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What we pursue is the wellbeing of both the Chinese people and the people of all other countries,&#8221; Xi Jinping, Chinese president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized in &#8220;<span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> Diplomacy Must Befit Its Major-Country Status&#8221; of the second volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>. <\/i>In <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>, a light rail line constructed by a Chinese company has transformed the lives of locals, demonstrating <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> commitment to pursuing shared wellbeing with people in neighboring countries.<\/p>\n<p><b>Chinese <\/b><b>&#8216;<\/b><b>kung fu<\/b><b>&#8216;<\/b><b>\u00a0under brimmed hat <\/b><\/p>\n<p>On the streets of <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>, the motorcycles are rumbling; above the hustle and bustle, an &#8220;iron dragon&#8221; shuttles along the elevated tracks in the city. The two are intertwined, forming the unique transportation network of this city. The Hanoi Light Rail Line 2A in <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, or Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line, is a main line in the urban rail network of <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>. About 13 kilometers long with 12 stations, the line uses Chinese technology and standards. Constructed by China Railway Sixth Group Viet Nam Co., Ltd, the line commenced operations in <span class=\"xn-chron\">November 2021<\/span>. As <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> first urban light rail, it stands as a testament to the deepening friendship between Chinese and Vietnamese people.<\/p>\n<p>At the starting station of the Hanoi Light Rail, Global Times reporters met <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span>. As one of the first light rail drivers in <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> is tall and clad in a crisp black uniform, a brimmed hat, a bright red tie, and spotless leather shoes. He is energetic \u2013 that&#8217;s the first impression of the reporters.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> guided the reporters into the driver&#8217;s cabin, a small space filled with various instruments and buttons, and introduced, &#8220;This is the core area of the main control console\u2026the sprinkler, the electric horn. Over there, those are the high acceleration and reset buttons.&#8221; With his hand on the joystick in the center of the command console, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> said &#8220;This is the main controller, just like the steering wheel of a train.&#8221; His adeptness was evident throughout the demonstration.<\/p>\n<p>In 2014, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> encountered an important opportunity in his life. The Hanoi Metro Company was selecting the first batch of drivers for the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line. He applied and was selected as one of 37 trainees. That year, 28-year-old <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> went to <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span> for training.<\/p>\n<p>The one-year intensive training on the Batong Line of Beijing Subway became unforgettable memory for him. &#8220;What struck me the most was the morning and evening rush hours \u2013 I never thought that the subway could carry so many passengers!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Upon arrival in <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, there were language difficulty and culture shock, making <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> even more grateful for his Chinese mentor, who provided meticulous help and patiently answered his questions on daily life as well as the training.<\/p>\n<p>The training had two parts: theory and operation. In theory classes, the teacher gave lectures and there were exams afterward. After passing the exams, the trainees entered operation phase, where one mentor instructed one trainee.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Zhang Yuelan, that is the name of my mentor,&#8221; <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> immediately responded when asked whether he still remembered the name of his Chinese mentor after a decade. &#8220;A\u00a0teacher for one day should be treated like a father for life. Receiving selfless teaching in a foreign country, I have always remembered this profound relationship.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Although the train was parked at the station, <span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung&#8217;s<\/span> eyes were closely fixed on the front during the conversation, maintaining vigilance at all times. His left hand rested near the walkie-talkie, and his right hand on the joystick \u2013 the mark left by his 10 years of experience, and it also stems from the teachings of his Chinese mentor on the concept of &#8220;responsibility.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We need to help neighbors in times of crisis, treat them as equals, visit them frequently, and take actions that will win us support and friendship,&#8221; Xi wrote on <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> neighborhood diplomacy in the first volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>. <\/i><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Duong Thanh Hung<\/span> is one of countless Vietnamese people who are hardworking, humble, carrying a dream of building a better future for their country. With the advancement of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span> practical cooperation, more and more people like him are able to realize their dreams. According to <span class=\"xn-person\">Wang Hongwei<\/span>, head of marketing department at China Railway Sixth Group Viet Nam Co., Ltd, more than 600 personnel from the Vietnamese operating company have been sent to <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> for training, including drivers, train attendants, and station maintainers.<\/p>\n<p><b>The fast and efficient &#8216;Chinese dragon&#8217; <\/b><\/p>\n<p>As of <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 1, 2025<\/span>, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line has transported approximately 35 million passengers. Among three subway lines opened in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Ho Chi Minh City<\/span> in <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam<\/span>, it has the shortest construction time, the lowest investment cost per kilometer, and the highest operational stability.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Deng Yan<\/span>, a native of <span class=\"xn-location\">Central China&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"xn-location\">Hunan Province<\/span>, witnessed the entire process of laying the track for this subway line. Deng joined the light rail project department in 2015 as an assistant translator, responsible for coordinating on-site construction scheduling, communicating with Vietnamese owners, supervision teams, and local residents, and handling various issues.<\/p>\n<p>What impressed Deng most was when they were erecting girders and building bridges. From mid-2015, the construction of the light rail entered a &#8220;tough battle&#8221; mode. &#8220;We began work after <span class=\"xn-chron\">10 pm<\/span> and kept working until <span class=\"xn-chron\">5 am<\/span> the next morning. Every night when I looked up, there were stars. It might sound romantic, but in reality, it was a &#8216;high-intensity&#8217; challenge \u2013 the schedule was tight, the task was heavy, and it felt like a war,&#8221; Deng recalled.<\/p>\n<p>From initial preparations to the erection of the last girder, Deng and his team worked for over a year. In <span class=\"xn-chron\">October 2016<\/span>, more than 800 girders were erected, and the entire line was completed. &#8220;At that moment, it was more than a sigh of relief for everyone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Erecting girders is like assembling building blocks. It requires a high level of technical expertise and involves considerable risks,&#8221; Deng explained. Factors such as thermal expansion and contraction due to the weather, height differences, gradients, and flatness, if only one parameter fails to meet the standard, it could potentially lead to a series of subsequent safety hazards. &#8220;Our construction error range is controlled within the millimeter level. If the girders are not properly erected, all the subsequent work will be in vain.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>On <span class=\"xn-chron\">November 6, 2021<\/span>, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line officially began operation. At the beginning of the construction, the project was once faced with some criticism from Western media. &#8220;Watching the train running in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> like a giant dragon, I am so proud of our country and Chinese company. All the hard work over the years was truly worthwhile,&#8221; Deng said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After the line was opened, the rumors collapsed on their own. On social media, Vietnamese netizens began comparing the three light rail lines built by <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Japan<\/span>, and <span class=\"xn-location\">France<\/span>: What was the cost per kilometer, how long the construction took, and so on. After all three lines were opened, the Vietnamese people can tell clearly who offers a lower price, which line has better performance, and who treats them with sincerity \u2013 they have a fair judgment in their hearts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>&#8216;Teach people how to fish&#8217; <\/b><\/p>\n<p>According to <span class=\"xn-person\">Wang Hongwei<\/span>, from the project&#8217;s approval to its delivery, they supported the Hanoi Railways Company Limited in every detail to ensure the smooth operation of the light rail. In addition to delivering equipment, the Chinese side also imparted a complete set of technologies and management models, demonstrating the true spirit of &#8220;teaching people how to fish.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We even planted trees and ensure they grow in the park area. Even though the project was delivered long ago, they still often come to us for help,&#8221; Wang said, jokingly comparing himself to a &#8220;24-hour after-sales service provider.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line was launched, people from the lines built by <span class=\"xn-location\">France<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Japan<\/span> also came to learn from us. Many of the Vietnamese drivers who were trained in <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> now hold leadership positions or serve as trainers on the other two lines. The concept of &#8216;teaching people how to fish&#8217; lives on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>At the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held on <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 8-9, 2025<\/span>, Xi highlighted that <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span>\u2002vast territory and long borders make its\u2002neighborhood\u2002a\u2002vital\u2002foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key front\u2002for safeguarding\u2002national security, a priority\u2002area\u2002in managing overall diplomacy, and a crucial link\u2002in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.<\/p>\n<p>This light rail in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> has significantly improved the lives of <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> residents. The most practical change is the convenience of travel &#8211; it took more than one or even two hours to travel the approximately 13-kilometer journey during the morning and evening rush hours, but now it only takes 20 minutes. Many residents have purchased monthly passes, and the commuting time from the suburbs to the city center has been cut by more than half.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Nguyen Thanh Ha<\/span>, a Vietnamese employee who has been working for China Railway Sixth Group Viet Nam Co., Ltd for 10 years, said that with the light rail, the surrounding commercial and residential areas saw rapid development, and the living standards of her family have improved accordingly. &#8220;We can get various services and goods more conveniently, and it has also brought more job opportunities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Reporters observed that many people on the light rail were traveling with family. Different from the &#8220;commuter trains&#8221; for office workers, there were many children aged four or five years old, and their laughter lit up the carriage.<\/p>\n<p>On the train, reporters met 73-year-old Vietnamese man, who called himself Dat, and his wife, who were chatting with friends and heading downtown for a leisurely outing. &#8220;Before the light rail, we rarely went to the downtown for fun because the transportation was really inconvenient,&#8221; Dat said. &#8220;It&#8217;s too dangerous for the elderly to ride a motorcycle. Thanks to the Chinese company for helping build the <span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span> light rail, which allows everyone to travel with peace of mind.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Construction of the <span class=\"xn-location\">Lao Cai<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Hai Phong<\/span> railway project linking <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> northern regions to <span class=\"xn-location\">Southwest China&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"xn-location\">Yunnan Province<\/span> will begin by the end of 2025, according to the Vietnam News Agency.<\/p>\n<p>Just like what Xi said in the second volume of <i>Xi Jinping: The Governance of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, <\/i>the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the connectivity endeavor are compatible and mutually reinforcing. If the Belt and the Road are likened to the two wings of a soaring <span class=\"xn-location\">Asia<\/span>, then connectivity represents its arteries and veins.<\/p>\n<p>Wang told the Global Times that the construction of the <span class=\"xn-location\">Lao Cai<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Hanoi<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Haiphong<\/span> railway will accelerate integration between <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> BRI and <span class=\"xn-location\">Vietnam&#8217;s<\/span> Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and meet the demand for high-quality, fast, convenient and safe transportation. &#8220;As we often say, this is not just about building a railway; it is about paving the road of friendship between the two countries.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This article first appeared in Global Times: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globaltimes.cn\/page\/202504\/1332498.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.globaltimes.cn\/page\/202504\/1332498.shtml<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:html --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cision-pr-newswire","category-cision-pr-newswire-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21780\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}