Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Agriculture andRural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong held a working session with ChineseAmbassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo in Hanoi on April 16 to discuss ways to facilitatethe exchange of agricultural products between the two countries amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Agro-forestry-fishery trade between Vietnam and China fellabout 7 percent year-on-year in the first months of the year.

The tightened control by the neighbouring countries inresponse to the epidemic slowed down customs procedures, he said, while workingtrips by delegations from the two agriculture ministries and major trade fairs haveboth been suspended.

China has allowed nine types of Vietnamese fruit andvegetables to be imported. The two sides are completing the necessary proceduresfor eight more Vietnamese agricultural products to do likewise.

Cuong used the occasion to call on the Ambassador to helpfacilitate online procedures so that technical issues are addressed. 

He expressed a hope that administrative procedures wouldbe completed as soon as possible so that more Vietnamese agricultural products canbe exported to China, thus contributing to enhancing bilateral trade andspurring agricultural development in both countries.

He also proposed the Chinese side extend the openingof its customs offices, which are only five or six hours at certain bordergates, and that the two sides invest more human resources in this regard.

Echoing Cuong’s views, the Ambassador stressed theneed to strictly control the epidemic and at the same time promote trade andeconomic cooperation.

He said China must still conduct thorough inspections atborder gates due to the distinct possibility of the disease spreading.  

China’s customs sector has adopted many measures toshorten the time needed to complete customs clearance, he explained, suggestingthat Vietnam expand cargo parking areas to ease congestion at border gates suchas Tan Thanh and Huu Nghi, optimise railway links in this regard, and launchonline medical declaration services for drivers.

He also recommended Vietnam and China develop adisease prevention mechanism at the Government level, with the participation offorces from central to grassroots levels.

The two sides also agreed to focus on customs measuresto quickly distribute farm produce stuck at border gates./.