China shuts down one border gate with Vietnam over Covid-19 fear

By Anh Minh August 17, 2021 | 01:20 am PT

Container trucks seen at Tan Thanh Border Gate in Lang Son Province. Photo by the Industry and Trade Magazine

China has temporarily shut down one of its border gates with Vietnam in Guangxi due to possible Covid-19 linkage in transportation.

Custom officials of China’s Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has temporary shut down the border gate with Vietnam’s Lang Son Province to review their Covid-19 safety measures, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.

They have found Covid-19 cases to be linked with drivers passing through the gate, the ministry added.

Lang Son authorities are working with Chinese officials to resume trade with safety measures imposed.

Last week, leaders of China-bordering provinces like Lang Son, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh and Cao Bang reported China had increased the frequency of examining and disinfecting products and vehicles due to fear of them carrying the novel coronavirus from Vietnam.

This has increased the time it takes for goods to be transported and caused occasional jams, they said.

Vietnam has recorded over 279,600 Covid-19 cases since the end of April.

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 the General Statistics Office.