Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has spoken to Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China Lu Xinshe on the phone to discuss ways mitigating the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on bilateral economic and trade ties.

Vehicles are disinfected before customs clearance (Photo: VNA)

Anh lauded joint work between the Guangxi administration and Vietnamese localities to restore economic and trade activities, including border trade.

He suggested that both sides should restore supply chain and create favourable conditions for customs clearance, thus meeting demand of people and businesses.

Due to the shortage of workforce to handle cargo at border gates, he proposed Guangxi devise a plan to increase labour force and allow Chinese vehicles to enter quarantine areas at Vietnam’s border gates to receive goods.

The minister also suggested the Guangxi administration ask Chinese agencies concerned to create favourable conditions for Vietnam’s agro-fisheries, including allowing more border gates to import Vietnam’s fresh fruits on border and railway routes, as well as putting Bac Luan II Bridge, part of the Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) – Dongxing (China) international border gate, into operation.

He expressed his hope that more Vietnamese farm produce will be imported at Bang Tuong border gate while the General Administration of Customs of China will accelerate legal procedures to open the market for Vietnam’s goods of strength such as durian, passion fruit, avocado, pomelo, coconut, custard-apple, salanganes nest and sweet potato.

According to him, both sides need to immediately build an action plan in support of business community after the epidemic is wiped out.

In the current context, he suggested holding trade promotion activities on the Internet and enhance e-commerce cooperation.

For his part, Lu Xinshe said the Guangxi administration basically agreed with Vietnam’s proposals.

He proposed soon expanding several border gates, restoring aviation transportation and ports linking Vietnam and Guangxi to facilitate travelling between both sides.

Guangxi will partner with competent agencies to open the door for Vietnam’s exports to China, he said.

Minister Anh vowed to work closely with ministries, agencies and localities concerned to study the feasibility of the Chinese side’s suggestions, and report to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control for approval.