Lao Cai (VNA) - The import-export value via the Lao Cai international border gate inthe northern mountainous province of Lao Cai reached 2.08 billion USD in thefirst half of 2021, up 41.98 percent year-on-year.

Exports surged 42.12 percent to around 895 million USD in the period, while importswere valued at nearly 317 million USD, down 3.76 percent compared to the sameperiod last year.

Temporary import for re-export, bonded warehouses, border-gate transfer, andtransit activities implemented by Lao Cai’s enterprises at other border gatesreached over 867 million, up 71.61 percent year-on-year.

According to Hoang Chi Hien, Director of the provincial Department of Industryand Trade, the import and export of goods via Lao Cai are mainly carried outthrough international road and railway border gates.

Local authorities have developed an action plan to realise its export-import targetin 2021, with a vision to 2025, which set out specific requirements, goals, orientations,main tasks and solutions on infrastructure construction, productiondevelopment, economic restructuring, investment, and trade and tourism promotion.

They have also paid attention to developing services to support import-export activities,improving the investment and business environment and the capacity of custom clearancefor goods, and strengthening coordination with the Chinese side to implementcooperation agreements on trade, investment and border management.

Nguyen Ngoc Khai, head of the management board of the Lao Cai Economic Zone saidin order to facilitate cross-border import-export activities through the LaoCai – Hekou international border gate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant agenciesof Lao Cai have regularly kept in touch with those of China’s Yunnan provinceto promptly solve arising difficulties.

The Vietnamese and Chinese provinces have regularly hold online talks orthrough external affairs channels to report arising issues related to diseasemanagement, and propose coordination measures in order to remove difficultiesand promote import-export through the Lao Cai ‑ Hekou international border gate.

Lao Cai and Yunnan provinces held an onlineconference between the Secretaries of the Party Committees of Vietnam’s LaoCai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien provinces and the Secretary of YunnanProvincial Party Committee in late May to promote friendly exchange, and seekopportunities for investment and business cooperation in all fields ofinvestment, trade and tourism.

They also proposed solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in thecooperation process and agreed on cooperation contents in the coming time./.