Vietnam and China, especially Guangxi Province, need to promote cooperation in resuming trade activities during and after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh.

Vietnam and Guangxi Province, China will promote cooperation to resume trade activities
during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. — Photo mongcai.gov.vn

Specifically, the two sides should resume supply chains and facilitate customs clearance for goods of the two countries, he said during a call at the weekend with Lu Xinshe, Communist Party Secretary of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. 

They spoke about strengthening coordination to overcome difficulties and minimise the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the two countries' economic and trade activities, including between Vietnam's localities with Guangxi.

The Minister proposed Guangxi improve efficiency and speed of customs clearance for imports and exports between the two countries.

Tuan Anh also highly appreciated the important role of Guangxi in the export activities of Vietnam's agricultural products to China and suggested Guangxi authorities propose the Chinese Government to create more favourable conditions for exporting Vietnam's agricultural and aquatic products to China.

Of which, China should permit more border gates on land and railway to import Vietnam’s fresh fruit products, he said. China needs to launch customs clearance for trade activities via the Bac Luan II Bridge, belonging to the Mong Cai-Dong Hung (Dongxing) international border gate.

In addition, China needs to allow more kinds of agricultural products and fruits to be imported at the border gate on the Bang Tuong railway, said Tuan Anh. China’s General Administration of Customs should also give export licences for more Vietnamese enterprises as well as Vietnam's fruits such as durian, passion fruit, avocado, grapefruit, coconut, custard apple, water apple and other agricultural products such as bird's nest and sweet potato to China.

The minister proposed that Vietnam and Guangxi authorities need to build an action plan now to promote trade activities after the pandemic ends. The plan would focus on activities to support businesses of the two sides in enhancing trade activities, including trade promotion programmes and exchange of market information.

In the context of the pandemic, the two sides should consider new ways of trade cooperation, such as the organisation of online trade promotion activities and development of e-commerce, he said.

Lu Xinshe said the Guangxi authorities have implemented comprehensive measures to control the disease, resume production and facilitate import and export activities, especially border trade with Vietnam.

He agreed with all proposals of Vietnam and said that the two sides should soon expand trade activities at the Long Bang-Tra Linh, Ta Lung-Thuy Khau and Hoanh Mo-Dong Trung border gates.

Vietnam needs to give priority to resuming air and marine traffic between Vietnam and Guangxi, he said. Meanwhile, Guangxi will coordinate with relevant Governmental agencies to increase goods and businesses of Vietnam allowed to export to China.

The action plan proposed by the minister Tuan Anh was an important step for the period after the pandemic and during the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Border trade

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on March 13, the customs office at the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, Lang Son Province, completed customs clearance for 171 trucks of export goods, including agricultural products, fruits, electronic components and machinery; and 321 trucks of import goods, including electronic components, machinery, garments, agricultural products, paper and auto parts.

There were still 171 trucks of agricultural goods and electronic components for export waiting for customs clearance.

The same day, at the Tan Thanh Border Gate, the customs office finished customs clearance for 151 export trucks, mainly carrying agricultural products including watermelons, dragon fruit, jackfruit, bananas, rambutans, bamboo leaves and tapioca, and 31 import vehicles of green beans, onion peanuts, mushrooms and garlic. Meanwhile, 514 trucks of agricultural products and fruit for export were waiting for customs clearance.

In Lao Cai Province, 318 trucks transporting export goods, mainly farming products such as dragon fruits, watermelons and bananas, and 235 trucks of import goods, including vegetables, fruits, fertiliser and others, completed customs clearance at the Kim Thanh II Border Gate. Remarkably, there were no trucks waiting for customs clearance at this border gate.