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Viet Nam Customs and China Customs strengthen comprehensive cooperation and promote customs modernization

HANOI, November 9, 2026 – The Viet Nam Customs Department held high-level bilateral meeting with a delegation of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), led by Mr. Wu Haiping, Vice Minister of the GACC.

At the meeting, Director General Nguyen Van Tho extended a warm welcome to the GACC delegation and reaffirmed that Viet Nam Customs attaches great importance to its cooperation with China Customs. He expressed the hope that the two sides would continue to build on their achievements and expand substantive and effective cooperation, in keeping with the stature of the Viet Nam–China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. 

Noting the continuous growth of economic and trade relations between the two countries, both sides underscored the important role of Customs authorities in facilitating trade and safeguarding the security and safety of the supply chain in bilateral trade. In particular, the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters in April 2026 has laid an important legal foundation for stronger information exchange, administrative assistance and law enforcement coordination between the two sides. 

On future cooperation, the two sides focused on four priority areas, including the development of smart border gates, mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), connection of the National Single Window mechanisms, and the fight against smuggling and trade fraud.

High-level bilateral meeting between the Viet Nam Customs and China Customs

Regarding the development of smart border gates, Viet Nam Customs provided information on the completion of the legal framework and the steps taken to implement cooperation with Nanning Customs in exchanging import and export cargo data for customs clearance at the Huu Nghi – Youyi Guan border gate pair. Both sides will continue close coordination, maintain regular exchanges, ensure implementation progress and study the expansion of this model to other border gate pairs. 

With regard to the AEO programme, both sides acknowledged the completion of Phase 1 of the Joint Action Plan signed in October 2024 and agreed to continue coordinating the implementation of Phase 2, including on-site validation activities at AEOs of Viet Nam, with a view to establishing a mutual recognition mechanism. This will help reduce costs, simplify procedures and shorten customs clearance time for enterprises.

Regarding Single Window cooperation, Viet Nam Customs has established a Working Group on Single Window Cooperation with China Customs and proposed holding an online meeting in November 2026 to discuss the draft Framework Agreement on Single Window Cooperation and agree on orientations and an implementation plan. Connectivity and data sharing between the two authorities are considered important solutions to improving customs management efficiency, facilitating trade and promoting supply chain connectivity between the two countries.

In the field of combating smuggling and customs law violations, both sides agreed to strengthen information exchange on subjects, methods, modus operandi and key transportation routes, as well as coordinate the verification and handling of related cases. Director General Nguyen Van Tho highly appreciated the active role of China Customs in Phase 8 of the Mekong Dragon Operation, with the mid-term evaluation recording 927 cases detected and more than 6.33 tonnes of drugs seized.

At the meeting, Mr. Wu Haiping highly valued the cooperation between the two Customs authorities and proposed further promoting cooperation in smart customs, strengthening experience sharing and applying science and technology in management. He also emphasized the promotion of the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters once the Agreement officially enters into force; continuous cooperation on AEO mutual recognition and Single Window connectivity; and strengthened coordination in combating smuggling, particularly within the framework of the Mekong Dragon Operation.

 Delegates at the meeting

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to maintain exchanges and close coordination between their specialized units and promote the effective implementation of the cooperation areas discussed. On this occasion, Director General Nguyen Van Tho proposed to establish a mechanism for rotating high-level bilateral meetings. He also requested China Customs to consider and support receiving high-level delegations from Viet Nam Customs for study visits on China’s customs management model for specialized inspection, and through Mr. Wu Haiping, conveyed an invitation to Ms. Sun Meijun, Commissioner of the General Administration of Customs of China, to visit and work with Viet Nam Customs next year.

The meeting provided an important opportunity for the two authorities to review cooperation results and agree on orientations and solutions for the coming period, contributing to the development of a favourable, modern and secure cross-border trading environment and making practical contributions to strengthening and developing the friendly and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and China.

Ngoc Bich