Hanoi (VNA) – Hundreds of fruit container trucks have remained stuck fordays at border gates in the northern province of Lang Son, bordering China where millions of people are in lockdown because of the newcoronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According tothe Ministry of Industry and Trade, as of 12pm on February 23, 171 containertrucks loaded with Vietnamese exports of farm produce, fruits, electronic partsand textile and garment have been customs-cleared at the Huu Nghi Border Gate while 365 trucks, mostlywith fruits, have been jammed here.

Some 189trucks containing electronicparts, machines, ceramics, glass products, and textile and garment from Chinahave been let through to Vietnam.

At the Tan Thanh Border Gate, the main gate fortransporting fruits to China, 107 trucks loaded mostly with dragon fruit andwatermelon, are still queuing for customs clearance to China. Only 13 havebeen passed through so far.

The backlogwas caused by a severe lack of stevedores in the Chinese side to help withcargo loading and unloading and the fact that only official-channel exports areallowed to enter China has reduced the number of trucks cleared, the ministrysaid.

The Coc Namand Chi Ma Border Gates have also been in similar situationbut with only 14 queuing trucks in total.

On February22, Vietnamese and Chinese officials have discussed and agreed to keep the TanThanh Border Gate open from 7:00 – 19:00 to help fasten the clearance processand reduce congestion.

In Lao Cai,about 200 trucks have been also waiting for customs clearance at the province’sborder crossing./.