International border customs activities at Kim Thanh Border Gate No. 2. Image: Quoc Khanh/TTXVN
In the early hours of the lunar New Year’s Day, import-export goods have been cleared through Kim Thanh Border Gate No. 2. The border officials at the gate gave flowers to the first drivers from both countries as they crossed the border, hoping for a prosperous new year of smooth trade.
Mr. Pham Minh Hieu, representative of An Nguyen Import-Export Limited Company, said that the goods exported through this gate are mainly fruits from the southern provinces such as watermelon, dragon fruit, durian, jackfruit… To clear customs on the first day of the new year, many long-distance drivers had to celebrate the New Year’s Eve on the road or in the warehouses near the border gate.
At the Lao Cai International Border Gate, right after the gate was opened, the first exit and entry visitors were Vietnamese and Chinese citizens. Especially, there were even crowded tour groups queuing up to travel across the border for the Lunar New Year celebration.
According to their regular practice, the Border Station representatives gave gifts and lucky money to the first two citizens who went to the entry and exit counters. On the first morning of the new year, a friendship ceremony between the border management forces of Vietnam and China took place at Lao Cai International Border Gate. At the Hoi Kieu II Border Bridge over the Nam Thi River, the two sides exchanged flowers, made wishes, and sent each other good luck wishes for the new year.
According to the Lao Cai Customs Department, there are 40 businesses that have registered to declare import and export goods during the 2024 Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, a sharp increase compared to previous years. The reason is that due to the suspension of operations at the Lang Son border gates, many fruit products have been shifted to export through the Lao Cai border gate. The value of exports and imports, sales and exchange of goods through border gates in the area reached nearly 183 million USD in January 2024.
Also in January 2024, the functional authorities of Lao Cai province issued Certificates of Origin for over 16,000 tons of goods, including dragon fruits, watermelons, bananas, jackfruits, cassava flour, dried cassava slices, cinnamon oil, durians, coffee beans, purple sweet potatoes, with a total value of 24 million USD. On average, there are about 300 import-export trucks that complete their procedures at the border each day. Currently, there are about 600 businesses registered to carry out import-export activities through Lao Cai border gate.
According to Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lao Cai province, the local authorities have set a target of reaching a total import-export turnover through Lao Cai border gates of 4.5 billion USD in 2024. To achieve this goal, right from the beginning of 2024, Lao Cai province has directed all sectors to continue innovating, promoting comprehensive digital transformation in activities at the border gates. From there, enhancing customs clearance efficiency, administrative procedure transparency, attracting import-export businesses to the Lao Cai border gate.
In addition, efforts are being made to boost foreign activities, effectively implement cooperation agreements between Vietnam and China in general, and between Lao Cai and Yunnan province in particular. Building a model of Lao Cai – Ha Khau border gate pair as a model border gate on the Vietnam-China border line.
