Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has agreed to allow 190 Chinese traders to enter and purchase lychees in the northern province of Bac Giang.
Farmers harvest lychee in Bac Giang Province
"The Chinese traders must have a certificate granted by Chinese authorities showing they tested negative for the virus at least three days before their departure," the official said. "They will arrive through Huu Nghi Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son and will be sent to a quarantine area in Lao Cai Province upon arrival for Covid-19 prevention before travelling further to Bac Giang."
Phu added that the Chinese traders will be tested twice during their mandatory quarantine period, and be allowed to leave for trading only when their subsequent test results come back negative.
According to vice chairman of Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee, Phan The Tuan, local lychee farmers are growing on a total area of 28,100 hectares and are enjoying a big harvest this year with an estimated output of up to 180,000 tonnes.