Chairman of the People’s Committee of northern Lang Son province Ho Tien Thieu and Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China Chen Wu engaged in phone talks on September 21.

At the phone talks (Photo: baolangson.vn)

 Both sides informed each other about the COVID-19 situation, the impacts of the pandemic on cross-border trade, cooperation in border protection and management, and cross-border crime prevention and control.

 Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained information sharing and worked closely together to fight the pandemic, illegal immigration and crimes across the border.

 Lang Son created favourable conditions for nearly 20,000 Chinese experts and skilled workers to enter Vietnam via Huu Nghi international border gate, and offered quarantine services to about 5,000 Chinese experts. The two sides held 10 brief meetings at border gates, made over 180 calls via a hotline to share information about crimes, and ensure security and safety at border gates.

 They offered suggestions to deal with issues regarding economic and trade exchange, tourism, people-to-people exchange, building of model border gates, and seek ways to agree on time to resume operations at border gates such as Chi Ma – Ai Dian, Po Nhung – Zha Men Ai, and Co Sau – Beishan.

 The Vietnamese side suggested expanding the list of exports and imports via several border gates to minimise goods overload.

 In order to fight cross-border crimes, both sides agreed to work together more closely. Authorities from border gates will share more information about pandemic situation, thus laying a solid foundation to boost local socio-economic development and build a borderline of peace, stability, cooperation and friendship.

 They expressed their belief that ties between Lang Son and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will be increasingly closer.