Deputy PM invites Chinese firms to invest in renewable energy in Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has called on Chinese energy companies to propose specific projects that will help meet the growing electricity demand in northern Vietnam.

At a meeting with executives from energy company Lancang-Mekong International (LMI) on Thursday in Hanoi, Ha emphasized that enhancing connectivity in telecommunication, energy and transport infrastructure will unlock the trade and investment potential between localities in Vietnam and China.

He noted that the rising energy demand in northern Vietnam presents a strong opportunity for Mekong-Lancang to explore and propose concrete energy projects.

“Vietnam welcomes companies that bring about efficient policies, technologies, solutions and investments in the field of green energy, such as wind power, solar power, and pumped-storage hydropower,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mekong-Lancang, a subsidiary of China Southern Power Grid (CSG), has developed cross-border power grids connecting China with countries in the Mekong-Lancang River basin. It has also implemented several energy projects and partnerships in Vietnam.

According to Gan Lin, chairman of the board of directors at Mekong-Lancang, the company hopes to expand projects on power grid connections between China and Vietnam and increase the scale of electricity transactions between the two countries.

He also proposed broadening collaboration in renewable and clean energy and increasing exchanges and technical training in monitoring and operating safe, smart power grids.

In response, Ha affirmed Vietnam’s support for Mekong-Lancang’s collaboration with Vietnamese enterprises in grid interconnection, electricity trading, and transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, green energy, particularly pumped-storage hydropower.

He emphasized the importance of including technology transfer in cooperation plans and encouraged the development of industrial parks along the Vietnam-China border to maximize the effectiveness of interconnected power systems.

“Enterprises must take into account environmental impact, climate change, shared water resources, and information transparency to ensure that development does not compromise the sustainability of the Mekong-Lancang River,” Ha added.

On the same day, Ha also met with Chen Zhong, deputy general director of China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC). He acknowledged that CCCC is fully capable of participating in key transport infrastructure projects that enhance Vietnam-China connectivity.

Regarding the North-South high-speed railway project, Ha stated that while the government will play a central role, participating enterprises must commit to a clear roadmap for transferring railway technology to Vietnamese enterprises. This process should be governed by commercial contracts with legally binding commitments.