The event aimed to carry out the joint statement by the General Secretaries of the two countries on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, towards building a Viet Nam–China community with a shared future.
In his opening remarks, Vu Quang Toan, Head of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Division and Head of the Viet Nam Customs delegation, emphasised that, based on the positive outcomes of the previous 16 conferences, especially following the 16th Conference in Fujian in 2024, the two sides have expanded cooperation in multiple areas, including land, sea, and air routes, and e-commerce; and have gradually established a methodical and effective coordination mechanism in combating cross-border smuggling.
At this conference, the two sides discussed in detail on key topics: the situation of cigarette smuggling; digital transformation in customs control for cross-border e-commerce; cooperation in combating maritime smuggling; and effective implementation of the Operation Mekong Dragon.
In the first six months of 2025, Viet Nam Customs handled 8,561 violations, worth over 13.6 trillion VND; specifically, in border areas with China, 1,588 smuggling cases were detected, valued at nearly 59 billion VND. Common violations included exploiting goods in transit to mix prohibited items, origin fraud, concealing goods in specialised vehicles, and falsifying customs documents.
A highlight of the conference was the high consensus on continuing to promote the Operation Mekong Dragon – a joint initiative between Viet Nam and China Customs that has helped seize more than 4,500 cases related to drugs and wildlife, with large quantities of confiscated items. This operation holds both professional value and serves as a symbol of bilateral and regional strategic cooperation.
The two sides agreed on future cooperation directions: strengthening professional information exchange; technical coordination; promoting the application of high technology and AI in combating smuggling and trade fraud; and expanding cooperation to localities sharing land borders with a high risk of smuggling. Specifically, the joint action plan between Nanning Customs (China) and Viet Nam Customs of Regions VIII (Quang Ninh), VI (Lang Son), and XVI (Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang); and between Kunming Customs (China) and Viet Nam Customs of Regions VII (Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien) and XVI (Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang).
Speaking at the conference, Sun Zhijie, Director General of the Chinese General Administration of Customs’ Anti-Smuggling Bureau, highly valued the results of cooperation over the past years, expressed strong confidence in the effectiveness of coordination between the two sides, and pledged to continue close professional cooperation, build strategic trust, and foster cooperative relations.
At the conclusion of the event, the two sides signed the conference minutes, agreed to organise professional exchange activities between technical units. The success of the 17th conference affirms the shared determination and pioneering role of Viet Nam and China Customs in combating smuggling, protecting trade security, and contributing to building a peaceful, stable, and sustainably developed border.
