Firms advised to be cautious when exporting agricultural products via Lao Cai’s border gate

Vietnamese dragon fruit for export (Photo: VNA)

Lao Cai (VNA) – Vietnamese enterprises should be cautious before transporting agricultural products to Lao Cai's Kim Thanh II border gate for export to minimise losses although Chinese authorities are piloting the re-import of these products, according to Ha Duc Thuan, deputy head of Lao Cai Border Gate Management Board.

He advised local businesses who engage in importing and exporting goods to discuss and reach an agreement with their Chinese partners relating to goods delivery and receipt process.

Goods should be transported to the border gate for customs clearance only after Chinese businesses complete customs declarations and they are approved by a competent agency, Thuan said.

Chinese authority on June 27 piloted the clearance of Vietnamese agricultural products through Kim Thanh II international border gate in the northern province of Lao Cai. Dragon fruit, lychee and mango are the items chosen for the piloting process.

According to Thuan, due to China's strict policy relating to the import and export of goods during the COVID-19 pandemic prevention, the customs clearance for all agricultural products at Kim Thanh border gate was temporarily suspended since February 17.

All goods imported from Vietnam are subject to examination and rapid antigen tests to prevent COVID-19, he said, adding that the above-mentioned pilot scheme was the result of exchanges between border management forces of the two sides.

Two trucks transporting dragon fruit and lychee from Vietnam were cleared for export to China on June 27. If the goods meet the requirements for COVID-19 prevention, the Chinese side will officially resume the clearance of Vietnam's agricultural products through Lao Cai border gate.

Lao Cai border gate management board is in talks with the Chinese side to tackle obstacles to facilitate the export of Vietnamese agricultural products, Thuan said./.