Export and import activities at the Kim Thanh International Border Gate II. Photo: Quoc Khanh/TTXVN
In the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, export and import shipments were cleared through the Kim Thanh International Border Gate II. The authorities at the border gate presented flowers to the first drivers of the two countries, expecting a smooth trading year ahead.
Mr. Pham Minh Hieu, representative of An Nguyen Import and Export Limited Liability Company, stated that the goods exported through this gate are mainly fruits from the southern provinces such as watermelon, dragon fruit, durian, jackfruit, etc. In order to clear customs on the first day of the new year, many long-haul drivers had to celebrate New Year’s Eve on the road or in the nearby cargo depots.
At the Lao Cai International Border Gate, as soon as the gate was opened, both outbound and inbound travelers were the first Vietnamese and Chinese citizens to go through the procedures. Especially, there were multiple crowded tourist groups lining up for cross-border trips during the Lunar New Year.
According to the customs authorities of Lao Cai province, there were 40 companies registered to declare imports and exports during the traditional Lunar New Year of the Year of the Rat 2024, significantly higher than in previous years. The reason is that many fruit shipments diverted to Lao Cai border gate due to the suspension of operations at the Lang Son border gates. The total value of imports, exports, trade, and exchange of goods through the border gates in the area reached nearly $183 million in January 2024.
Also in January 2024, the functional units of Lao Cai province issued Certificates of Origin for over 16,000 tons of goods, including dragon fruit, watermelon, banana, jackfruit, cassava starch, dried cassava chips, cinnamon oil, durian, coffee beans, purple sweet potatoes, with a total value of $24 million. On average, over 300 import and export vehicles underwent customs procedures at the border each day. There are currently about 600 companies registered to carry out import and export activities through Lao Cai border gate.
According to Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee, the province has set a target of achieving a total import-export turnover through Lao Cai border gates of $4.5 billion in 2024. To achieve this goal, from the beginning of 2024, Lao Cai province has directed its sectors to continue innovating and promoting comprehensive digital transformation in border gate operations, thereby improving clearance efficiency, administrative procedure transparency, and attracting import-export businesses through Lao Cai border gate.
In addition, efforts are being made to enhance foreign affairs activities and effectively implement cooperation agreements between Vietnam and China in general, and between Lao Cai and Yunnan in particular; building the Lao Cai – Ha Khau border gate as a model pair of border gates along the Vietnam-China border.
