The official dispatch stated that, based on monitoring the situation and feedback from relevant agencies, in recent days, the number of trucks carrying agricultural products for export has increased dramatically at border gates in Lang Son province. Meanwhile, customs clearance procedures are taking a long time, customs clearance capacity is limited, easily causing congestion at the border gates.

Currently, several types of fruit are in harvest season (durian, jackfruit, lychee, dragon fruit, etc.); it is predicted that road transport of fruits and agricultural products for export from various localities will continue to converge on border gates in Lang Son province and other northern border provinces, posing a risk of congestion of agricultural export goods, increasing costs, causing losses for people and businesses, and affecting traffic safety, security, order, and environmental hygiene at some border gates in Lang Son.

In light of the above situation, the Prime Minister requests the Ministers of the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs , Transport, Information and Communications, National Defense, Public Security, and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, as well as relevant agencies, to proactively direct and organize the implementation of urgent solutions to reduce congestion and promote the export of agricultural products, which are currently in season.

The number of trucks carrying agricultural products for export has increased dramatically, raising the risk of congestion. (Photo: Government Newspaper)

* Immediate solutions

Accordingly, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien; and the Ministers of the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Finance, National Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture and Rural Development, according to their assigned functions and duties, are directed to instruct relevant agencies to urgently review regulations on the import and export of agricultural products between Vietnam and China; proactively organize corresponding diplomatic activities, and closely coordinate with relevant agencies of the neighboring country to create favorable conditions, simplify procedures, increase the time for customs clearance, and improve customs clearance efficiency, preventing the recurrence of agricultural products being held up at border gates during hot weather conditions that easily cause spoilage.

The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces with border gates in the northern border region should proactively monitor, assess, and forecast the situation of agricultural product circulation and concentration in their areas to organize and coordinate closely with relevant agencies to direct functional forces to promptly take measures to regulate and manage the vehicles bringing goods to border gates, handle congestion points for exported agricultural products, and support and resolve procedures promptly to speed up customs clearance; regularly inform localities, agencies, and businesses nationwide about the situation of agricultural product circulation and export at border gates to proactively and promptly adjust to limit congestion at border gates, minimize losses for businesses and people; and strictly handle acts of exploiting the situation for personal gain.

The Ministers of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with localities, businesses, and distribution establishments to further promote the consumption of agricultural products currently in harvest season in the domestic market.

Ministers and heads of relevant sectors and localities should promptly rectify and handle negative behaviors related to export, import, and customs clearance activities at border gates.

* Long-term solutions

The Minister of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, Transport, and other relevant agencies, will implement measures to promote the export of agricultural products through official channels and diversify transportation methods for exported agricultural products (road, sea, rail, air, etc.).

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with the Ministers of Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, the Chairpersons of People's Committees of localities, and relevant agencies, will actively negotiate to promote market opening, especially through official channels, and remove technical barriers to agricultural exports. The focus will be on accelerating negotiations on quality management to increase the number of fruits officially exported to the Chinese market; and continuing negotiations with the Chinese side to reduce the percentage of Vietnamese agricultural products subject to inspection upon export to China.

Instruct and coordinate with localities to urgently build and develop concentrated agricultural commodity production areas of appropriate scale, ensuring compliance with regulations on product traceability, geographical indications, food safety, and quality standards and regulations for export and domestic consumption.

The agency shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies in developing and promulgating regulations and standards for the production and production of agricultural products within its scope of management. It shall coordinate with the Minister of Science and Technology to organize the development and implementation of geographical indications for agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products within its scope of management; effectively implement solutions for registering trademark protection for key Vietnamese agricultural products, and solutions for applying technology in tracing the origin of products protected by intellectual property rights; and support businesses in registering trademark protection for agricultural products domestically and internationally.

Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall proactively coordinate with the Ministers of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development to provide information and recommendations to people, agricultural cooperatives, and businesses to reorganize agricultural production in line with market demand, ensuring compliance with the processes, regulations, and standards of import markets from production, harvesting, preliminary processing, packaging, transportation, and traceability to promote official exports; and build and improve logistics infrastructure serving agricultural production and business in the locality according to the plan.

The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the northern border localities should prioritize allocating and mobilizing legal resources to invest in completing a comprehensive border trade infrastructure system in accordance with the plan, meeting the requirements for the development of circulation and import/export of goods across the border.

The Minister of Information and Communications, the Director General of Vietnam Television, Vietnam Radio, and Vietnam News Agency continue to guide media agencies to report fully, objectively, and promptly in order to accurately reflect the nature of the situation so that people and businesses understand the situation clearly, take timely response measures, and avoid losses.

Ministers of ministries and heads of relevant agencies should proactively strengthen direction, coordination, guidance, inspection, and support for localities to promote the development of agricultural production and consumption in the domestic market and for export.

Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities; Ministers of the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, Transport, Information and Communications, National Defense, Public Security and heads of relevant agencies shall strictly implement the contents of this Official Dispatch.

The Minister and Head of the Government Office shall monitor, supervise, keep abreast of the situation, and promptly report to the Prime Minister.

VNA