Hanoi (VNA) - TheMinistry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has proposed Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc permit customs clearance of goods through auxiliary border gates on theVietnam-China border.

The proposal aims to boost thevolume of import and export goods on the border gates between the twocountries, which currently reach about 50-60 percent in comparison with monthsprior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the proposal is approved,fresh agricultural products and fruits of Vietnam will be exported to Chinasoon.

The MoIT said that the auxiliaryborder gates between the two countries were qualified for customs clearance ofgoods according to the Government’s Decree 112/2014/ND-CP providing managementon border gates, as well as the agreement of trade, exchange, import and exportof goods signed by Vietnam and China, in which the prevention of COVID-19outbreak must be ensured.

Earlier, the PM allowed thereopening of Tan Thanh and Coc Nam auxiliary border gates in Lang Son province lastmonth after they were closed due to impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Chinaearly this year.

According to the MoIT, the currentclearance capacity at Tan Thanh border gate in is very limited, with about 130to 150 trucks carrying goods to China, accounting for 50 percent of goodsprepared for daily export. The remaining goods are stored at the border gatearea.

Meanwhile, the volume ofvehicles carrying goods from inland provinces to this border gate isincreasing, leading to congestion.

The provincial Industry andTrade Department said the Chinese side is facing a shortage of labour,especially those loading and unloading at the border area due to the impact ofthe COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the Chinese forcesare strengthening control and prevention of diseases on vehicles transportinggoods exported from Vietnam because the COVID-19 outbreak is increasing in somecities of provinces of the country.

Lang Son province and China'sGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have agreed to prepare necessary conditions tosoon restore customs clearance of import and export goods at this border, onthe basis of ensuring strict implementation of disease prevention processes.

The MoIT said China's controlof the COVID-19 pandemic had been greatly improved, in which Yunnan and GuangxiZhuang Autonomous Region had lowered the emergency response level from one tothree. “These two provinces have been partially restoring trading betweenborder residents of the two sides to meet the increasing production andconsumption demands when the pandemic is almost controlled.”

This is a favourable factor torecover, promote import and export activities, and transport goods to thecountry’s northern border gates in the future, the MoIT said./.