When flow of agricultural products is smooth
In days approaching 2024 Lunar New Year, container trucks carrying agricultural products are still rushing up to Lang Son and Lao Cai border gates to export to China. In particular, trucks carrying fruit and agricultural products to Chinese market increased sharply.
Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Deputy Director of Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Ninh Customs Department) - said that import-export activities in the first days of 2024 through area took place smoothly.
Specifically, at the opening of the Km3+4 pontoon bridge, there are mainly fruits and seafood for export. At Bac Luan 2 Bridge, import and export goods include confectionery, exported fish bladders and processing materials, exported production materials, and imported groceries.
Similarly, according to representatives of Tan Thanh Border Gate Customs Branch (Lang Son Customs Department), from the beginning of January 2024 until now, amount of import and export goods through the border gate has increased, on average per day of over 400 vehicles, about 300 cars exported.
According to Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, number of vehicles carrying export and import goods clearing customs through 6 road border gates currently undergoing customs clearance in the province reached an average of 1,200 vehicles/day, an increase of nearly 1,200 vehicles/day compared to the end of November 2023.
According to authorities at the border gates, to ensure prevention of congestion as well as facilitate regulation of quickly cleared goods, customs authority coordinates with yard management unit to classify goods. Separate flows for exported and imported goods vehicles.
For fresh agricultural products and fruits, customs always creates priority conditions and handles relevant paperwork quickly and accurately for customs clearance on the same day. Customs officers work until all trucks run out, around 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day.
Along with that, currently, imported and exported goods passing through Tan Thanh - Po Chai border gate pair, after completing necessary procedures, will be driven directly by drivers to the cargo yards in the border gate area on both sides for load and deliver goods; Instead of having to unload and wait for trucks without goods to pick up like before. This is very convenient for businesses and shippers in checking and monitoring import and export goods easily and conveniently, reducing many costs.
And mark of Industry and Trade sector
If more than ten years ago, scale of economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and China was only 20 billion USD, now, this number has increased 8 times.
According to data from General Department of Customs, with a total import-export turnover of 171.84 billion USD achieved in 2023, China continues to be Vietnam's largest trading partner, accounting for more than 25% of total import-export turnover.
Currently, China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN, China's 4th largest trading partner in the world (after the United States, Japan, Korea).
And in smooth flow of agricultural products and goods at border gates and trade borders, there is a major contribution from the Government, Ministry of Industry and Trade and other ministries and branches that have made efforts to negotiate to open the Chinese market for all kinds of goods of Vietnam.
In 2023, Prime Minister had two business trips to China and each time proposed that Chinese Government open door to Vietnamese agricultural products with 4 groups of frozen durian, chili, watermelon and medicinal herbs.
Ministry of Industry and Trade, with a key role in negotiating and promoting trade to expand markets for Vietnamese goods, has implemented many solutions to promote trade promotion into the Chinese market.
Most recently, at Conference to Promote Economic and Trade Cooperation in Northern Border Provinces with China taking place on December 9, 2023, Commander of Industry and Trade Sector - Minister Nguyen Hong Dien requested Ministries, Sectors and localities continue to thoroughly grasp and implement the policies of the two countries' leaders on comprehensive and effective cooperation, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment, and border trade.
"We need to identify China as a large economy, a large consumer market, and this is also the market that supplies most of the raw materials for Vietnam's manufacturing industry for export", Minister of Industry and Trade said. Thuong emphasized and requested all localities to well implement the Official Export Project that the Ministry of Industry and Trade developed and has been approved by the Government.
Previously, at a meeting with the Minister of Commerce of China, on June 28, 2023 in Beijing, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien proposed that his side promote the expansion of bilateral trade and support the delivery of goods. Vietnamese goods penetrate deeper into the Chinese domestic market, promote improved customs clearance efficiency at border gates, establish Vietnam Trade Promotion Office in Haikou, create favorable conditions for goods Vietnam's exports transit China's railways to third countries.
Open market, promote exports
Commenting on agricultural export market, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien affirmed that China is the main market, export turnover is expected to explode in 2024. In addition to the following aspects: goods that have previously signed official export quotas, the two countries will sign an additional Protocol to export frozen durian, fresh coconut, seafood, chili, medicinal herbs...
As one of enterprises that recently joined trade promotion delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Chinese market, Mr. Nguyen Khac Tien - Chairman of Board of Directors of Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company - shared, the enterprise was approach large Chinese corporations and import enterprises specializing in processed durian products. This shows that signal of a well-processed durian market will contribute to increasing export value of the fruit segment.
"If 2023 is the year of launch, then 2024 we expect will be year of acceleration for durian products in particular and Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in general", said Mr. Nguyen Khac Tien.
Implementing a plan to expand market share in the Chinese market, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung - General Director of Vina T&T Group Import-Export Company - said that enterprises has received large orders from Chinese import partners. Revenue target for 2024 increases by about 20% compared to 2023.
Vietnam ranks 10th among countries exporting agricultural products to China, accounting for about 2.6% of the country's total agricultural import value. Market potential for tropical agricultural products in inland localities, especially in the Northern and Northeast regions of China, is still large.
However, Mr. To Ngoc Son - Deputy Director of Asia-Africa Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) - assessed that China is a market with high and strict standards. This market is reducing its level of dependence, moving to stop the form of informal export and is moving quickly and strongly to a form of formal trade.
To promote export of goods in general and agricultural, forestry and fishery products in particular to the Chinese market, Mr. To Ngoc Son also recommended that state management agencies and local authorities need to develop an industry development strategy; Building concentrated, large-scale specialized production/farming areas; Orient production/farming according to market signals...
Besides, it is necessary to effectively utilize cooperation mechanism between the two countries to remove difficulties and technical barriers; Develop a roadmap and plan to open market for export products, evaluate domestic production skills and market needs.
For businesses, it is necessary to focus on brand building and brand protection; Research and comply with regulations on quality standards, testing, quarantine, packaging and traceability of the Chinese market; Carefully research market needs and development trends; Take advantage of Vietnam - China intermodal railway transport route; Build a team of staff who are fluent in the market and language; exploit market through e-commerce.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn