Customs officials of Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi, China have temporarily closed and stopped import and export activities at Po Chai border gate adjacent to Tan Thanh and Lang Son border gates of Vietnam to avoid spread of COVID-19 in transportation. The cause is said to be because China discovered COVID-19 cases linked to drivers passing through the border gate. VnExpress newspaper (English version) quoted a notice from Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade as reported on August 17.
However, the ministry also added that there is currently no official announcement from China about the suspension of customs clearance at Tan Thanh – Po Chai.
Currently, the Lang Son provincial government is working with Chinese officials to resume trade with the imposed safety measures, creating the most favorable conditions for bilateral trade in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Also on August 17, Vietnamplus website reported that Cao Bang Border Guard had detected more than 22,000 people related to 2,660 illegal entry and exit cases since the outbreak of COVID-19 until now, and fined more than 31 people. Of these, more than 21,000 people were handed over to local authorities for medical isolation.
It is said that the masterminds often hire border people who know the terrain to lead the way after searching and contacting people wishing to work abroad through social networks.
The Border Guard has prosecuted 38 cases with 88 subjects for organizing and brokering for citizens to illegally enter and exit from the end of 2019 until now.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
