Promoting two-way import and export between Vietnam and China

In order to promote import and export activities through the area, Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch has implemented many specific and synchronous solutions in trade activities through border gate pairs and openings, realizing the goal of turning Mong Cai City into a national key border gate economic zone.

The first 2,374 tons of goods exported through the Km3+4 Hai Yen pontoon bridge opening after the Lunar New Year holiday of At Ty 2025. Photo: Vi Thu (Contributor)

In Mong Cai city, there is Mong Cai international border gate (including Bac Luan I and Bac Luan II bridges) and it is identified as one of the most important border gates of Vietnam. In addition, there is Ka Long secondary border gate; Luc Lam, Dai Vai, Luc Chan export goods inspection points; Mong Cai ICD dry port; temporary pontoon bridge opening at Km 3+4 Hai Yen (Mong Cai) - Dong Hung border port (China); Po Hen opening (Vietnam) - Than San (China) and Van Gia port transfer area (a seaport that can receive 100,000-ton ships to transport goods) trading with Dong Hung city and major economic centers of China. These advantages have made Mong Cai City a locality with a large volume of goods circulation (including road and waterway) and a center for goods exchange between Vietnam and ASEAN countries and southern provinces of China such as: Fangcheng, Beihai, Nanning, Guizhou, Hong Kong, Hainan and many other important areas.

To continue promoting the potential and advantages of Mong Cai City, on March 16, 2021, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 368/QD-TTg approving the adjustment of the master plan for the construction of Mong Cai Border Gate Economic Zone until 2040. Accordingly, Mong Cai City is planned to be a national key border gate economic zone, an important economic development center of the Northern region, of the Northern coastal economic belt and the Kunming (China) - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Mong Cai - Fangcheng (China) economic corridor.

In line with the above target, in recent times, Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch has implemented many solutions to increase the two-way import-export turnover between Vietnam and China. In 2024, the Branch has proactively advised the Party Committee and the Mong Cai City government on a number of issues related to the border and border gate sectors. Typically, it proposed to reduce the rate and time of inspection and quarantine; supplement a number of agricultural fruit products for export through the Km 3+4 opening; pilot customs clearance time at Bac Luan II border gate from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Vietnam time, including holidays and days off (except Tet); report to the competent authorities of the two localities to soon restore customs clearance of goods through Ka Long border gate (Mong Cai - Vietnam - Dong Hung Border Gate - China) to meet the import-export needs of businesses and residents in 2025.

Dong Hung Customs delegation visited the customs management model at Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch. Photo provided by the unit

In particular, in 2024, Mong Cai Customs Branch organized 2 meetings with Dongxing Customs (China). Through the Branch's proposal, the two sides agreed to take turns chairing quarterly meetings, and committed to closely coordinate in goods control, creating maximum conditions for import and export enterprises on the digital border gate and smart border gate platforms, contributing to automating the process, reducing customs clearance time for import and export goods and means of transport for entry and exit. The two sides also provided timely information before there were changes in the management mechanism and policies for agricultural, forestry and aquatic products exported from Vietnam to China, minimizing damage and risks for Vietnamese enterprises.

With proactive and positive actions, in 2024, Mong Cai Customs Branch achieved a record budget revenue and a strong increase in the number of enterprises. Specifically, the Branch carried out customs procedures for over 93,500 declarations with a total import-export turnover of over 4.55 billion USD (an increase of 30% in declarations and 25% in turnover compared to 2023), carried out immigration procedures for 6.36 million passengers, an increase of 63% over the same period in 2023). The total number of enterprises carrying out procedures was 1,350, an increase of 338 compared to 2023. The total budget revenue reached 2,350 billion VND (achieving 145% of the assigned target, an increase of 55% compared to 2024).

Entering 2025, on the first day of customs clearance (the 8th day of the Lunar New Year), 96 trucks with 2,374 tons of goods, worth 2.3 million USD, were exported from Vietnam to China through the pontoon bridge opening at Km3+4 Hai Yen. The export items include frozen seafood, fresh seafood, fresh fruits and tapioca starch. This continues to be a positive signal signaling favorable import-export activities through Mong Cai City right from the first days of the new year.

Comrade Nguyen Van Duong, Deputy Head of Mong Cai Customs Branch, said: In 2025, the Branch will continue to advise the city government to propose competent authorities to accelerate the implementation progress and soon put into operation approved strategic planning projects, especially dynamic infrastructure projects with spillover effects such as: Bac Luan III Bridge; International Center for Commodity, Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Trading; cross-border works at the opening Km 3+4; railway border gate connecting the Vietnam - China international railway line. At the same time, a comprehensive coordination and cooperation mechanism will be built between the authorities and functional forces on both sides of the border to create stability, together building a model pair of Mong Cai - Dong Hung international border gates into a pair of model border gates on the entire border, contributing to building a peaceful, friendly, stable and developing border.

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