Establishing a “buffer zone”, actively negotiating to promote customs clearance

– On December 24, Mr. Ho Tien Thieu, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee chaired a meeting to review measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic at the border gate area in the province.

According to the report, during the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the strengthening of pandemic prevention and control measures, and frequent changes in import and export policies from China have caused congestion of goods at the border gate area, causing damage to export enterprises.

Currently, at border gates of Tan Thanh, Coc Nam, Chi Ma and Huu Nghi International Border Gate, there are still more than 4,000 vehicles waiting to be exported.

Mr. Ho Tien Thieu, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee speaks at the meeting

In order to create favorable conditions for import and export activities, at the meeting, relevant departments, commissions, sectors and businesses in the area exchanged and discussed the establishment of a “buffer zone” – a international standard sterilization area for export goods located outside the border gate area to ensure the creation of a “green zone” at the border gate for goods to undergo export procedures and the COVID-19 inspection, control and testing process for people, means and goods for export.

Accordingly, the Department of Health has studied and developed a draft process of disease prevention and control inspection and control for each border gate area, including Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh, Chi Ma. For the management of specialized drivers and long-distance drivers, the control will continue to be carried out according to a 3-round closed process to ensure the “green zone” at border and border gates.

At the meeting, delegates focused on discussing measures to speed up goods clearance and control the pandemic.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee agreed to choose the commodity transshipment area as the “buffer zone” of Huu Nghi International Border Gate, the non-tariff zone as the “buffer zone” of Tan Thanh Border Gate. Here, the control of diseases on people and goods will be strictly ensured, contributing to maintaining the “green zone” of the border gate area.

Leaders of the Provincial Customs Department speaks at the meeting

He asked the functional branches and the People’s Committees of the districts to be transparent, to actively negotiate and exchange with China to find a solution to overcome difficulties and obstacles in import and export activities, to choose the delivery methods, select options and recognize sterilizeation results, promote customs clearance of goods.

Along with that, the functional forces should continue to strengthen the management of specialized drivers and service workers at the border gate area, paying attention to ensuring security and order, environmental sanitation, and avoiding the spread of disease.

The Management Board of Dong Dang – Lang Son border Gate Economic Zone should cooperate to research and advise the Provincial People’s Committee to send information documents to businesses to ensure the requirements of pandemic prevention and control from the place of production and packaging of export goods; coordinate with relevant agencies to develop a draft process for consideration and selection of priority goods before January 10, 2022.

The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to promote the signing of an agreement between the Provincial People’s Committee and the Chinese Embassy in the receipt of biological products, equipment and medical supplies.