Myanmar, China trucks soon to be allowed for bilateral border crossing

Trucks will soon be given green light for bilateral cross-border trade between Myanmar and China through Muse border post, Sai Khin Maung, managing director of the Khwanyo Fruit Wholesale Centre.
The coordination of detailed procedures is still being undertaken for the border crossing, he added. At present, China banned Myanmar trucks and drivers to enter its side because of the COVID-19 protocols and only Chinese short-haul drivers are allowed to transport the goods.
As a result of this, the cost of Chinese short-haul trucking tremendously rose to K10 million per truck, whereas the trucking was worth only K700,000-K800,000 when Myanmar truckers were allowed to enter China, U Min Thein, vice-chair of the Muse Rice Wholesale Centre said.
Myanmar sees a big slump in exports. The number of trucks to China through the Kyinsankyawt border post drastically dropped from 400 to 30 for now.
This being so, the volume of rice and broken rice export plunges from 60,000 to 4,000 bags per day, U Min Thein stressed.
Only if China lifted COVID restrictions can Muse border trade revive, U Min Thein shared his opinion.
China shut down all the checkpoints linking to the Muse border amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the checkpoints, Kyinsankyawt has resumed trading activity from 26 November on a trial run. Myanmar daily delivers rubber, green gram, rice and other food commodities to China through Kyinsankyawt post with about 30 trucks.
Myanmar has opened five border trade zones with China; Muse, Lweje, Kampaiti, Chinshwehaw and Kengtung. The majority of the trade is carried out through the Muse land border, the Ministry of Commerce’s data indicated. — NN/GNLM