Participants in the conference include 123 representatives and observers from 5 ASEAN countries including Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, the International Union of Railways (UIC), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), plus 22 foreign and 5 domestic companies.

At the opening session, Vietnam outlined a development plan for building high-speed railways by 2020 and reported progress in establishing an industry economic group.

Nguyen Huu Bang, General Director of the Vietnam Railway Corporation, said that other important issues such as staff exchange at the ASEAN Railways Centre, property management and experience in operation and management of railways would be discussed at the conference.