France to help Vietnam develop urban railway Tuoitrenews A scene of the seminar held in HCMC on May 28, 2013 between Vietnam and French experts in rail transport and urban planning. VNA French Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Fabrice Mauries said that France wishes to provide Vietnam with advanced technical expertise necessary for the country’s urban railway development, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The French diplomat made the statement on May 28, at a seminar held in HCMC with leading Vietnamese and French experts in rail transport and urban planning. The seminar, which was held by the French Embassy in Vietnam, the French Agency for International Business Development in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Unit, is part of economic activities to mark Vietnam-France Year. The event is a fine illustration of the bilateral partnership between France and Vietnam, Mauries said. Developing urban railway systems is an important area in the partnership, which is manifested by the construction of a pilot route in Hanoi with French financial assistance, the diplomat said. Given that Vietnam’s annual GDP growth has reached 7 percent over the past 20 years, its population growth has amounted one million people per annum, and the urbanization is taking place rapidly, Vietnam needs to have an urban railway network to meet the growing socio-economic demand, experts said at the event. The seminar’s attendants also discussed related issues such as the creation of future railway lines, ticket systems, public transport infrastructure planning, and the control of risks, safety and working conditions. Hanoi wants to build eight urban railway lines, four of which have been implemented, while Ho Chi Minh City, needs to construct 10 lines, including one tram and two monorail routes, according to reports delivered at the seminar. The seminar created a good opportunity for the Vietnamese side to update information on its urban railway and planning, Hoang Nhu Cuong, Vice Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Unit, said. The event also offered chances to French companies and other international firms to explore opportunities of investment in railway building projects in Vietnam, Cuong added.