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Viet Nam Customs Department met with State Tobacco Monopoly Administration of China

Summary

On July 30, 2026, a bilateral meeting took place at the headquarters of the Viet Nam Customs Department between representatives of the Vietnam Customs Department and a delegation from the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) of the People’s Republic of China to promote cooperation in combating smuggling and trade fraud.

Updated on : 31-07-2026

On July 30, 2026, a bilateral meeting took place at the headquarters of the Viet Nam Customs Department between representatives of the Vietnam Customs Department and a delegation from the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) of the People’s Republic of China to promote cooperation in combating smuggling and trade fraud. The Viet Nam Customs Department delegation was led by Mr. Vu Quang Toan, Manager of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department. The STMA delegation was headed by Mr. Liu Sanjiang, Vice Commissioner.

On behalf of the Vietnam Customs Department, Mr. Vu Quang Toan welcomed the STMA delegation on their first visit to Vietnam. The visit was expected to open up practical cooperation opportunities in combating smuggling, trade fraud, and handling intellectual property rights violations related to tobacco products.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese representatives shared some outstanding results from the 18th Meeting on Anti-Smuggling Cooperation between the Viet Nam Customs Department and the General Administration of Customs of China, which recently took place in China. Mr. Vu Quang Toan emphasized the close cooperative relationship between the customs authorities of the two countries, affirming the importance of cooperation and sharing of information, with the fight against tobacco smuggling identified as one of the top priorities. The Vietnamese Customs authority also provided information on the signing of several cooperation agreements on tobacco smuggling prevention with relevant agencies of several countries.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Liu Sanjiang thanked Viet Nam Customs for the thoughtful reception and active cooperation. The STMA’s Vice Commissioner stated that the purpose of this visit was to strengthen cooperative relations with Viet Nam Customs. This action also concretizes the shared understanding of the high-level leaders of the two countries on strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of combating cross-border smuggling. The Chinese side also pointed out new and complex trends in current cigarette smuggling activities, notably the increase in transnational and cybercrimes. In addition, the scale of operations of counterfeit cigarette production facilities is expanding with more sophisticated methods than before.

Faced with these challenges, both sides discussed and exchanged solutions to thoroughly prevent the illegal exploitation of the facilitated procedures of temporary import and re-export and the bonded warehouse system to smuggle cigarettes. Measures focused on strengthening the monitoring of temporary import and re-export activities, storage, and transshipment of goods; and intensifying control and patrols in key routes and areas; and maintaining the sharing of information through the contact points of both sides.

At the end of the meeting, the Vietnamese side requested the Chinese side to continue to cooperate closely and support Viet Nam in training and improving the capacity and skills of officials in identifying tobacco products. In addition, the Customs Department also pointed out the need to strengthen coordination with representatives of intellectual property rights holders of Chinese tobacco products in Viet Nam.

Nhật Quang