International Customs Cooperation Deepening Growth, Strengthening Integration

2024 marks 30 years of Vietnam Customs advancing international cooperation and integration, obtaining many achievements in customs modernization and streamlining the import-export process and cross-border vehicle movement. Vietnam has also bolstered law enforcement, safeguarded national security and sovereignty, and protected economic interests through active participation in many bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), with projected import-export turnover reaching up to US$800 billion.

Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Tho and his Cambodian counterpart Kun Nhem sign the cooperation agreement for 2025

From bilateral cooperation

Mr. Dao Duc Hai, Director of the International Cooperation Department, said: From now to 2030, Vietnam Customs will concentrate on synchronously and comprehensively carrying out key solutions to improve effective participation and increase contributions to customs cooperation and integration mechanisms in ASEAN, WTO, APEC, ASEM, WCO and other frameworks; and cooperate closely with partners to research, learn and evaluate models, measures, methods and development trends of modern customs management in the new context of the world and the region in terms of economy and trade.

Vietnam Customs will advance various forms of cooperation like connecting in information exchange, coordinating C/O confirmation and verifying customs law violations; strengthen coordination in controlling prohibited items and illegal transportation of goods; and promote technical and professional cooperation with partner countries. Vietnam Customs will develop strategies to negotiate and finalize mutual recognition arrangements for authorized economic operators with key partner countries, particularly those with bilateral or multilateral agreements with Vietnam. It will also ensure the effective implementation of international commitments on customs and trade facilitation, aligning these obligations with domestic laws to maintain coherence within the legal framework. In the past, cooperation between Vietnam Customs and customs authorities in neighboring countries, major countries and important partners has continued to be implemented and become more substantial, as seen through the increased exchange of high-level delegations, information exchange and cooperation on professional expertise, and capacity building support.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs successfully hosted the 33rd ASEAN Directors - General of Customs Meeting in Phu Quoc, showcasing its important role in promoting Green Customs, technological innovation, and regional integration

A series of important agreements and documents on customs cooperation have been signed or are nearing completion with key trade partners, including the Declaration of Intent with the US Customs on seeking cooperation opportunities in establishing the Foreign Electronic Cargo Data Exchange Program (FECDEP) in May; the Investigation Cooperation Plan with Australian Customs (May), the Action Plan with China Customs on mutual recognition arrangements on authorized economic operators (October), the Joint Action Plan with the Russian Federation Customs on combating customs violations for the 2024-2026 period (June), and the mutual recognition arrangements on authorized economic operators with South Korean Customs. In addition, the progress of negotiations on agreements and mutual assistance agreements on customs with partners such as China, the UK, Germany, Chile, Sri Lanka and Middle Eastern countries like the UAE and Qatar is also being accelerated, expected to be completed in 2025.

To support carrying out Digital Customs and Smart Customs goals, Vietnam Customs has actively sought opportunities and expanded cooperation to exchange expertise and techniques with large, experienced partner countries. Notable results include cooperation and research on the possibility of connecting and exchanging electronic data with US Customs to improve customs management, research and assessment of the possibility of exchanging cargo data between a pair of seaports of Vietnam and the Netherlands, and the construction of a “Smart Border Gate” Project with China Customs. Especially, according to necessary and urgent requirements of the customs sector, the International Cooperation Department led discussions with Japan, advised on working plans, prepared documents for meetings and high-level official trips of the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs on requests for support related to the maintenance and upgrading of the VNACCS/VCIS System, as well as proposals on potential support and participation of the other side in building and redesigning the overall information technology system for Digital Customs initiated by Vietnam Customs.

In addition to strategic partners, Vietnam Customs has continued to maintain and deepen cooperative relations with customs authorities of neighboring countries. With China, besides the traditional cooperation in customs control, the two sides have promoted research to expand cooperation in customs digitalization, authorized economic operators and single-window according to the Vietnam-China Joint Statement announced by the two countries' senior leaders in December 2023. With Laos and Cambodia, the continued organization of annual Vietnam-Laos Customs Directors General Conferences (November) and Vietnam-Cambodia Customs Directors General Conferences (December), held in Vietnam, are of great significance, facilitating the quick updating of information and enhancing the coordination of customs agencies. In addition, collaboration among customs clusters along Vietnam's land borders has been reinforced through regular engagements, including periodic talks.

To multilateral cooperation

2024 is considered a milestone in Vietnam Customs’ participation in regional and global multilateral customs forums. In Southeast Asia, according to the rotation mechanism, Vietnam Customs assumed the chairmanship of the ASEAN Customs Cooperation Forum from June 2024 to May 2025. Accordingly, the General Department of Vietnam Customs successfully chaired and conducted the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Directors General of Customs in Phu Quoc. This was the most important annual meeting in the ASEAN Customs Cooperation Forum, aiming to review and promote the progress of ongoing ASEAN Customs integration cooperation and setting out directions for the next stage. As the chair, Vietnam showed an active role in meeting management and participation, demonstrated it with the introduction of orientations and proposals for regional integration cooperation initiatives on Green Customs as well as research on new tech applications, and strengthened connectivity and information sharing for customs control. These important areas created the foundation for the research and development of the ASEAN Customs Development Strategy for the 2026-2030 period. Moreover, Vietnam's careful planning and execution of the meeting showcased professionalism and respect, leaving a positive impression that earned high praise from international counterparts.

At the World Customs Organization (WCO), Vietnam Customs was unanimously supported by members to be selected as the Chair of the Permanent Technical Committee for the period from April 2024 to April 2025, demonstrating the WCO's trust and appreciation for the past contributions of Vietnam Customs at the world's largest customs forum. In the Asia-Pacific region, based on the advice and proposals of the International Cooperation Department, Vietnam Customs actively put forth many initiatives as a member of the Development Group responsible for making the WCO's Asia-Pacific Regional Strategic Plan for the 2024-2026 period and directly coordinated one of the four priority contents of this Plan with Australian Customs. Moreover, Vietnam Customs hosted two workshops within the framework of the WCO, namely the Regional Workshop on Capacity Building on Intellectual Property Rights (May) and the National Workshop on the WCO Data Model (November).

The bilateral meeting between the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia, December 9, 2024

Vietnam Customs has further promoted its strengths and likely become one of the active members in customs control of the region in general. Vietnam has made many contributions recognized as a member of WCO’s operations such as Operation Demeter, Operation TIN CAN, Operation Thunder and Border Management Project to control and combat illegal trade/transportation of plastic scrap and especially as the host/co-host of Operation Mekong Dragon and Operation Joint Customs Control (JCC) within the ASEAN framework.

To date, Vietnam Customs has gradually integrated more deeply, becoming an important and responsible member of many regional and global economic forums and organizations. Vietnam Customs' participation in international organizations is gradually transforming from exercising membership rights and obligations to actively participating in shaping cooperation mechanisms and institutions in these organizations with increasingly assertive roles and positions.

By Hien Phuc, Vietnam Business Forum