Lang Son proposes solutions to support agricultural exports

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Goods at Tan Thanh Border Gate. Photo: H.N

According to the local government, the import and export across border gates in the province has suffered difficulties due to the export adjustment policies by the Chinese government to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic.

Specifically, the Chinese side continues to strictly control Vietnam’s export goods; closely manage drivers; and change the goods delivery method at the pair of Tan Thanh-Po Chai, Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan Border Gates; stop customs clearance of goods at Coc Nam - Lung Nghiu border gates from August 26, 2021.

In addition, the Tan Thanh-Po Chai transport route across landmark 1088/2-1089 has not been officially operated, so the pair of border gates still operates under the form of goods traded by border residents. The list of imports and exports depends on the Chinese traders. Vietnamese vehicles must go to China to receive exports.

At the pair of Chi Ma-Ai Diem border gates, the Chinese forces have not yet opened the border gates. Therefore, only four of 12 border gates in the province are operating.

Vietnamese drivers at Tan Thanh Border Gate must transfer the vehicles to Chinese drivers, causing an increase in goods transport time. Some Chinese drivers have not got used to driving the vehicles, so there have been collisions and vehicle damage, affecting the goods quality.

Currently, Lang Son province has exported major products to China such as star anise, chili, black jelly, tapioca starch, cassava chips, turpentine, clinker, board, and exported colophon to Korea, and tea to Taiwan.

However, the province said that local enterprises are facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the import demand of foreign enterprises decreased, and most of the sub-border gates in the province suspended operations; the transport cost increased due to the long transport time by sea and land; vehicles must be go through quarantine procedures and meet medical requirements.

The People's Committee of Lang Son province requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade and central ministries to continue to take measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives and start-ups affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to strengthen management for the shipping sector, and prevent the abuse of the disease to increase transport costs.

The province also asks the competent agencies to enhance efficiency of import and export operation across the Dong Dang-Bang Tuong international railway; work with the Ministry of Transport in directing the planning, prioritizing the investment portfolio in construction and improving transport infrastructure for transportation and logistics, including the international intermodal railway.

The local government also proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to complete the signing of the Protocol on plant quarantine with the Chinese government to allow Vietnam's fruit and agricultural products to be exported to China; to soon sign the Protocol on Phytosanitary for the remaining eight types of fruits that are on the list of official exports to the Chinese market, helping to reduce the time for inspection procedures at border gates.

In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade should continue to maintain discussions with Chinese agencies to restore customs clearance at border pairs: Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan, Tan Thanh - Po Chai, and at sub-border gates, especially Coc Nam - Lung Nghiu when the disease is under control in the province and Southern provinces, thereby promoting production and export of local goods as well as domestic goods.

In addition, the ministry should ask the Chinese side to complete the procedures to put the Tan Thanh-Po Chai transport route into official operation and become a customs clearance point at Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan; upgrade and officially open the Binh Nghi - Binh Nhi Quan bilateral border gate pair to improve the customs clearance capacity of goods; and propose the Chinese side to confirm the official working time at the Chi Ma - Ai Diem border gate and add the location, type, opening time and working time of the Vietnam - China land border gate in the appendix.