China should resume fruit imports at border, Vietnam urges

By Anh Minh August 25, 2021 | 02:52 am PT

A farmer harvests dragon fruits in the central province of Binh Thuan. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc

Vietnam has requested that China resume importing agricultural produce through the border of Yunnan Province after over a month of suspension due to Covid-19 fears.

There had been no Covid-19 cases detected along the border of Yunnan, and around 400 Chinese trucks a day typically enter Vietnam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recently told China’s Ministry of Commerce and Yunnan authorities.

But from July, Yunnan had stopped the imports of agricultural produce, especially dragon fruit, from Vietnam due to fears of Covid-19 contagion.

Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien proposed Yunnan resume trading with safety measures imposed as it has been doing for over a year.

Many Vietnamese companies earlier this month complained that China’s halt of importing dragon fruit and tightened safety measures have increased the difficulties for their businesses.

The trade ministry has advised Vietnamese companies to use official export quotas, meaning to establish prior contracts with Chinese buyers before sending trucks to the border to ensure smooth trade activities.

China was Vietnam’s second largest export market in the first seven months with a value of $28.7 billion, up 24 percent year-on-year, according to General Statistics Office.