Mong Cai City in the northern province of Quang Ninh, will drop Covid-19 test requirements for goods and people to China from January 8, the same day that Beijing relaxes testing measures.

Mong Cai City's Bac Luan Bridge II Border Gate. Photo: Quang Ninh Province's portal

The removal of testing measures was agreed upon at talks last December between the authorities of Mong Cai City and Dongxing City in China's Guangxi Province, in line with China's reopening of its borders to international visitors on January 8.

According to Hoang Ba Nam, Secretary of the Mong Cai City's Party Committee, the move aims to reduce time and costs for local businesses exporting goods through Bac Luan II checkpoint, Km3+4 Hai Yen checkpoint, and Ka Long border crossing.

Previously, truck drivers and their vehicles passing through the Mong Cai international border gate were required to undergo Covid-19 RT-PCR testing due to China's strict Covid-19 control.

However, Mong Cai City's authorities require people to continue wearing masks, disinfecting their hands, and avoiding crowds while drivers need to wear protective clothing.

The authorities of Mong Cai City and Dongxing City have regularly exchanged information and agreed on the entry and exit time while promoting import and export activities at border gates and markets.

At present, Mong Cai City has made a plan to welcome citizens, tourists and enterprises from Dongxing City, and is actively reviewing the system of accommodation facilities in preparation for the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations to ensure safety and order.

Mong Cai City is home to Mong Cai International Border Gate, one of the most important international border gates in the trade relationship between Vietnam and China. 

One million tons of cargo were customs-cleared at Mong Cai Border Gate, and total trade turnover reached more than US$3.2 billion in 2022, down 18% against 2021.