The training was made clear in a memorandum of understanding on personnel training for 2011 signed recently by the two companies.

The national strategy for railway development up to 2020 with a vision for 2050 requires a greater effort to bring into operation some transnational express rail sections.

However, Vietnam, a developing country, is facing numerous difficulties in implementing a high technology project such as automation and electrification. This has posed a big challenge to the rail sector along with the need for huge investment, which is hard to mobilise.

To help Vietnam address the problem, Japan has trained 14 rail workers in express rail technology over the past two years. In addition, the world’s third largest economy has offered a joint research programme on designing two express rail stretches, one from Hanoi to Vinh, capital city of the central province of Nghe An, and the other from Ho Chi Minh City to the beach resort in Nha Trang city in the southcentral coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

In an official letter sent to the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment in November, 2010, Japan offered to add the joint research programme to its aid list in the 2010 fiscal year. In an official letter to the Japanese embassy, Vietnam has agreed to accept this additional technical aid.