Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hassigned an official dispatch on the implementation of urgent measures to settle goods congestion and promote the export of farm produce through northern border gates.

The document was issued as there is a surge in numberof trucks carrying agricultural products at border gates in the northern provinceof Lang Son, leading to a high risk of congestion due to long customsclearance procedures and modest clearance capacity.

Meanwhile, many kinds of agricultural products such as durian, jackfruit,litchi and dragon fruits are entering the peak harvesting season.

In the dispatch, the Prime Minister asked leaders of relevant ministries,agencies and localities to roll out a number of urgent measures to minimisecongestion at the border gates.

They were asked to promptly review regulations on the import-export of farmproduce between Vietnam and China, implement corresponding diplomatic activities, and closely coordinate with Chineseauthorities to simplify customs clearance procedures, thus preventing the riskof damage to agricultural products due to the long-lasting procedures and hot weather.

Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of northern borderprovinces were requested to give evaluation and forecast of the situation,while coordinating with relevant forces to regulate and manage vehiclescarrying goods to the border, and assisting them in the customs clearance process.They were ordered to regularly updating localities, agencies and businessesacross the country on the circulation and export situation of farm produce sothat they can make suitable adjustments.

The Ministers of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and RuralDevelopment were asked to coordinate with businesses and localities to promote the sale of farm produce in the domestic market.

In the long run, the PM requested relevant ministries and agencies to implementsolutions to promote the export of farm produce through official channels anddiversify transport methods, while expanding markets and removing barriers infarm produce exports, and speeding up negotiations on farm produce quality andratio of products subject to inspections for export to the Chinese market.

They were also assigned a number of tasks, focusing on developingproduction regions meeting regulations on origin and food safety, buildingstandards for agricultural products, and guiding localities in productionto meet the market demands, and completing border trade infrastructure to serve agriculturalproduction and exports./.