13.04.2020
The Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China published new rules on 11 April 2020 - notification on further prevention and control of overseas epidemic importation and strengthening the closed management of international road freight drivers. Specific requirements for foreign drivers are as follows:
- In principle, foreign freight vehicles entering the border should unload at the port. Foreign drivers shall leave China on the same day, and shall not contact the management personnel of the freight terminal and the cargo handling personnel during the loading and unloading period.
- Foreign drivers who are unable to leave China on the same day due to genuine difficulties will be subject to temperature check, and will be directly transferred from the port to a designated place under the supervision of the local authority responsible for the prevention and control of the epidemic. It will not be permitted to go out of the designated place before leaving China.
- During their stay in China, foreign drivers shall comply with the relevant provisions on the prevention and control of the epidemic situation at the place where the port is located, strengthen their own protection, take the initiative in health declaration, and promptly report any suspected symptoms such as fever, dry cough and fatigue.
- Foreign drivers who make multiple trips to and from cross-border transport shall be subject to regular testing (nucleic acid testing).
- Drivers who refuse to comply with the epidemic prevention and control regulations will be placed on a blacklist.
Source: CRTA
08.04.2020
With effect from 6 April, the passing of road freight through the Russian-Chinese border crossings points of Poltavka-Dongning and Turirog-Mishan is no longer permitted. The Pogranichny-Suifenhe border crossing point is closed for passenger transport, however currently remains open for freight transport. These measures have been put in place in order to ensure centralised inspections and/or quarantine in relation to the flow of goods and passengers through these ports.
With effect from 8 April, due to the rapidly increasing flow of passengers, the Manzhouli-Zabaikalsk border crossing point has been closed for passenger transport until further notice, as it has exceeded its capacities for inspection, quarantine and virus testing. Freight transport will remain open for operations.
Sources: Foreign Affairs Office of the People ’s Government of Heilongjiang Province; People’s Daily
31.03.2020
On 30 March 2020, the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China issued a notice on the prevention and control of imported coronavirus from overseas.
The following items are related to border crossing point (BCP) closures and operations of foreign trucks:
1. For road BCPs. Those closed passenger and cargo transport BCPs and passenger transport BCPs will continue to be closed for transport operations until further notice; the opening of international passenger transport at seasonal BCPs will be postponed.
2. For truck drivers. Foreign trucks will unload cargo at BCPs, and foreign truck drivers will return on the same day of arrival in China. Those foreign truck drivers who have difficulty returning will stay in accommodation designated by local disease prevention and control agencies.
Source: China Transportation News
27.03.2020
1. China has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into China by foreign nationals holding valid visas or residence permits due to the rapid global spread of COVID-19, according to an announcement by the Foreign Ministry and the National Immigration Administration on Thursday.
The suspension - starting on Saturday 28 March - is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the practices of other countries.
In addition, entry with diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas will not be affected, and foreign nationals coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities, or out of emergency humanitarian need, may apply for visas at Chinese Embassies or Consulates.
(Note: C visas are issued to air crew members, railway and maritime staff, and international road transport drivers. Therefore, international drivers will be exempted from the above policy).
Source: the Foreign Ministry, the National Immigration Administration, China Daily
2. Chinese authorities have urged strict measures to prevent the return of a domestic outbreak while controlling the import of new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). The central government have urged local governments to perform their duties in preventing cases, imported or exported through land and waterway transport, and implement measures to suspend cross-border international road transport and enhance management on international waterway transport.
Provincial governments should enforce quarantine measures for those entering the border through land ports in their administration, except for residents living at the border, diplomats, and people engaged in important trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation.
To guarantee unimpeded freight transport, measures to control and prevent COVID-19 must be carried out for drivers of freight vehicles. Foreign freight vehicles entering the border should unload at the port, unless the goods cannot be moved midway.
Source: The State Council of the People’s Republic of China
Overview of the situation at land borders for passenger transport operations:
According to a notice published on 20 March by The State Council of The People’s Republic of China, China will suspend cross-border road transportation for passengers and hold back inbound and outbound tourist services as part of a broader effort to curb the importation of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases from 20 March until further notice.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202003/20/WS5e740aa9a31012821728095b.html
The epidemics control on domestic cases is stabilising in China, but the Government is maintaining stringent measures to avoid cases imported from foreign countries.
Overview of the situation at land borders:
- All borders from China side remain open for now, but Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan borders remain closed on their sides,
- At borders with Kazakhstan, from China side, no compulsory quarantine requirements on non-Chinese truck drivers entering into China, but regular business operations have been severely affected:
1. Alashankou BCP has resumed TIR transport since February, the operations are normal,
2. The auxiliary services in Khorgos have shown signs of re-opening for business. However, due to the control measures applied in Kazakhstan, very few operations are taking place,
3. No operation is reported at Baketu BCP, as non-Chinese drivers are not willing to enter into China due to the control measures applied in Kazakhstan.
- At Erenhot, bordering Mongolia, freight operations are possible, but normal operations have been severely affected. Quarantine measures are compulsory for all those entering into China. Truck drivers are exempted from the quarantine control,
- At Manzhouli, bordering Russia, freight operations are possible, but normal operations have been severely affected. Quarantine measures are compulsory for those entering into China from 34 countries. Russian drivers are exempted from the quarantine control.
Source: Chinese Customs
