Hanoi (VNA) - Ministries need to analyse the impact of coronavirus on bothinternational and domestic markets, then deliver short-term and long-termsolutions, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said on January 31.

The analysis and solutions must stick with the development of the Vietnameseeconomy so that the economy increased its competitiveness, quality andproductivity, he said.

“It is time we hastened the restructuring of all sectors,” the minister said,adding it was necessary to look for opportunities in other markets, especiallythose with potential for further penetration.

According to officials at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the restrictionthat nations are deploying to prevent a global-scale outbreak of the diseasewould slow the growth of the retail sector down.

In addition, the number of foreign tourists, especially the Chinese, will falldown in the future while bilateral trade between Vietnam and China will bejammed.

The border gates between Vietnam and China in Lang Son province are being shutdown as the Chinese government has taken drastic measures to control andprevent the coronavirus from spreading.

The shutdown is jamming Vietnamese container trucks, which are filled withfruits, vegetables and other short-term agriculture products.

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade, the outbreak of the deadlycoronavirus has lowered retail sales in China. In addition, the Chinesegovernment has carried out measures to strictly control the infection, leadingto the extensive shutdown of the border gate.

Vietnam and China had planned to open the border gate in Lang Son province’sCao Loc district on January 31 for the continuance of bilateral trade after theTet (Lunar New Year) holiday. However, the spread of the disease forced Chineseofficials to extend the shutdown until February 9.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade’s foreign trade agency has asked logisticsfirms to help Vietnamese agriculture producers following China’s decision totemporarily stop importing local farm products.

The consumption of agricultural products had fallen in China while tradeactivities between the two economies was also badly affected, the agency saidin a request sent to the Vietnam Logistic Business Association (VLA) on January30.

The agency asked the VLA and member companies to pay attention to newdevelopments and assist exporters to store agricultural products while waitingfor the border gate to be re-opened. Local firms are also advised to look foralternate consumers in both domestic and overseas markets.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also asked local companies to keep closewatch on trade activities between Vietnam and China amid new developments ofthe current event to avoid negative impacts on their business.

The ministry will also work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developmentto encourage local firms to produce dried products and fruit juice to raise theproduct value and extend the product expirations.
As of 17:00 on January 31, the world reported 9,920 cases of nCoV infection, with 9,779 patients in China. A total 213 have died, all in China.

The virus has spread to 23 countries and territories outside China.

On the day, the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus outbreak in China as a global health emergency of international concern.

At a recent press conference held by the Health Ministrt, Sataco Ottshu from the WHO office in Vietnam said the declaration of the nCoV a global health emergency is aimed at promoting global coordination in fighting diseases.

Sataco Ottshu said WHO appreciated the efforts of the Government, the health care sector and ministries, agencies of Vietnam in monitoring, detecting, treating and warning against the virus./.