Long queues of container trucks loaded with exports to China at Kim Thanh Border Gate in Lao Cai. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Industry and Trade’sAgency for Foreign Trade has urged firms that export goods to China to give thehighest priority to preventing the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading further andensuring the safety of their workers and the public.
Exporters should not make light of preventive measuresagainst the coronavirus because of the pressure to ease the backlog of goods atborder crossings with China and boost imports, the agency said in a notice recentlysent to local departments of industry and trade, business associations andexporters.
This will contribute to Vietnam’s concerted efforts tocombat the COVID-19 outbreak, it added.
Border gates with China have reopened but import and exportactivities have not returned to normal due to delays in customs clearance and asevere lack of workers to help with cargo handling in bothcountries.
Additionally, China has tightened control of entry and exitof people and vehicles from Vietnam, particularly those from pandemic-hitareas. Most recently, the Chinese side banned drivers from Ho Chi MinhCity, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Da Nang and Binh Thuan from delivering exports toChina because of the complex development of the pandemic in these localities.
The northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Lao Caiwhich have a large volume of exports and imports going through daily haveestablished “buffer” zones around the border gates for quarantine purposes.
As of March 30, 1,175 container trucks remained stuckacross the northern border crossings, the majority of which – 1,086 trucks –were in Lang Son, mostly loaded with dragon fruit, watermelon, banana, mango and jack fruit.
The border gates are likely to see even worse congestion inthe coming months when more fruits and agricultural products in Vietnam enterthe harvest season, leading to growing demand for export to China./.
VNA
