At Youyiguan, also known as Friendship Pass, on the border between China and Vietnam, the aroma of durian marks the presence of this tropical fruit even beyond its peak season. The port, situated in Pingxiang within the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, serves as a crucial entry point for Vietnamese durians into the Chinese market.
Despite the end of the peak season, the flow of durians remains steady, with customs officials at Youyiguan facilitating the import process. This port, with over 2,000 years of history dating back to the Han Dynasty, has evolved from a historical defense point to a bustling trade and tourism gateway.
Customs procedures have been optimized to enhance efficiency. Huang Feifei, a customs official, highlighted the introduction of services like 24/7 clearance and rapid laboratory tests, which significantly reduce the time required for fruit imports. The streamlined process allows for clearances to be completed in as little as 15 seconds, according to a truck driver who frequents the port.
The port's activity reflects the growing economic ties between China and Vietnam, underscored by the Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy. The trade relationship has been further bolstered by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), under which Vietnamese durians gained access to the Chinese market.
Trade between China and Vietnam has seen remarkable growth, with the bilateral trade value exceeding 200 billion U.S. dollars annually in recent years. The first seven months of 2024 alone saw trade reach 145 billion U.S. dollars, a 20.9 percent increase from the previous year. This growth is partly attributed to the surge in online shopping, with cross-border e-commerce playing a significant role in promoting trade and economic development in border areas.
Zhou Yunbiao, director of Pingxiang's service center for e-commerce development, emphasized the transformative impact of cross-border e-commerce on the local economy, highlighting its role in the dynamic trade environment between China and Vietnam.
Source: xinhuanet.com