Vietnam's National Assembly on Wednesday approved raising the economic growth target for this year and backed major infrastructure projects, including a rail link to China and the construction of the country's first nuclear power plants.

The Vietnamese parliament has now approved a railway project worth over US$8 billion that will connect its northern port city to the Chinese border.

The project is expected to reinforce the already strong economic linkages between northern Vietnam and southern China.

The Vietnam National Assembly on Wednesday gave a near-unanimous approval to a railway bill that allows the country to utilize Chinese loans for the construction of a new $8.3 billion link aimed at improving transport connections between the two neighboring countries.

The railway project will extend about 390.9km from Lao Cai province, near the Chinese border, to Lach Huyen station in Hai Phong, Vietnam.

Vietnam's National Assembly has given the green light to a massive $8.3 billion railway project that will connect the country to China. This ambitious endeavour aims to boost trade and connectivity between the two nations,

The National Assembly has approved plans for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway, which links to the border with China, at a cost of US$8.37 billion or $15.96 million per kilometer.