At Huu Nghi International Border Gate

Trade has resumed at the Huu Nghi international border gate in the northern province of Lang Son since 2 p.m. today, February 5, allowing scores of container trucks to ship farm produce to neighboring China after several days of trade suspension due to a new coronavirus.

An intersectoral working team from the northern province, headed by Vice Chairman Nguyen Cong Truong, had checked efforts to fight the spread of the virus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, and avoid contamination at the border gate before approving the passage of 66 container trucks. Drivers and traders will be place in quarantine as per the country's new regulations.

As of today, Lang Son has 362 trucks waiting for export permission, including 66 at the Huu Nghi border gate, 205 at the Tan Thanh border gate (mainly carrying dragon fruit and watermelon), 33 at the Coc Nam border gate, 57 at the Binh Nghi border gate and one at the Na Hinh border gate.

Therefore, to minimize farmer and exporter losses and prevent buyers from lowering farm produce prices, local authorities have suggested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government resume trade activities to handle soaring inventories. However, having transported goods to China, drivers and exporters will face a 14-day quarantine at the border gate and bear all healthcare fees.

Speaking to Nguoi Lao Dong Online newspaper, Truong said the move aims to address the large volume of goods waiting at the border gate since the end of the 2020 traditional Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet. All goods at the Huu Nghi border gate (Vietnam) and You Yi Guan border gate (China) are expected to be cleared this afternoon.

Earlier, after a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on February 3, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong reported the issue to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc the next day. Today, the Government Office sent a notice to the provincial authorities, ordering the resumption of exports and imports in Lang Son.

According to Truong, container trucks from China will be gathered in a designated area, with Chinese drivers, traders and exporters being isolated. They will return to China right after transactions end.

Vietnamese farm produce prices slump as China halts imports

Local farmers have suffered heavy losses as many Chinese traders have halted fruit imports amid the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, Thanh Nien Online newspaper reported.

According to Long An Dragon Fruit Association, Chinese traders have cancelled over 500 dragon fruit container shipments, priced from VND40,000 to VND50,000 per kilogram. They are now offering a new purchase price of only VND4,000 per kilogram.

Speaking at a conference held today, February 5, gathering the relevant departments to ramp up the consumption of dragon fruit, Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, deputy director of Long An Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that over 260 containers of Long An dragon fruit and watermelon were still stuck along the northern border.

To address the problem, some border gates have allowed trade among those who have signed contracts with China. Long An has seen over 3,000 tons of dragon fruit being piled up, and the figure will rise to over 20,000 tons by the end of this month if the coronavirus is not brought under control. SGT

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