Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06HANOI678, VIETNAM-CHINA TRADE: REPORT FROM LANG SON PROVINCE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06HANOI678.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06HANOI678 2006-03-23 09:35 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Hanoi
VZCZCXRO8992
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0678/01 0820935
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230935Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1215
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0767
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6675
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0646
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS 
DEPT PASS USTR FOR BWEISEL AND GHICKS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON CM VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM-CHINA TRADE: REPORT FROM LANG SON PROVINCE 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. 
 
REF: (A) Guangzhou 5377 (B) Guangzhou 4831 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Econ Counselor met with provincial and 
customs officials in Lang Son province, one of two main 
transit provinces for goods to and from China on March 16- 
17.  Customs officials at Tan Thanh claimed that 80 percent 
of goods crossing the checkpoint were fruit, smuggling of 
pirated goods was no longer a problem, and that the ban on 
poultry imports from China is effective.  While Trafficking 
in Persons (TIP) is an infrequent occurrence, drug smuggling 
remains a problem, and customs, police, and the border army 
in both Vietnam and China cooperate on both these issues. 
Customs officials' confidence regarding the degree of 
monitoring and control at this small border checkpoint begs 
the question as to how so many counterfeit products from 
China end up in Vietnam.  End Summary. 
 
A Major Transit Point for Trade with China 
------------------------------------------ 
 
2. (SBU) Econ/C visited Lang Son province March 16-17, and 
met with provincial and customs officials.  Located 180 km 
from Nanning in China and to the northeast of Hanoi, Lang 
Son is one of two main transit provinces for goods to and 
from China.  The total volume of trade with China through 
Lang Son reached a high of USD 700 million in 2001, of which 
USD 450 million were imports to Vietnam.  In 2005 the amount 
of two-way trade fell to USD 380 million, of which USD 305 
million were imports to Vietnam.  The province has a 253 km 
border with China, two international border checkpoints, and 
3 additional crossings that permit Vietnamese and Chinese 
citizens to move through the border to the nearest province. 
Several of Vietnam's major transportation routes traverse 
Lang Son, including highway 1A (Vietnam's main north-south 
thoroughfare) and an international railroad line.  An 
expressway linking Nanning to Lang Son City has been 
completed on the Chinese side; officials hope to begin 
construction on the Vietnamese side next year. 
 
3. (SBU) In addition to meeting with officials, Econ/C 
visited the Lang Son market, famous in northern Vietnam for 
its electronics.  Televisions, DVD players, karaoke 
machines, kitchen appliances, as well as other goods were 
readily available at bargain prices.  While the majority of 
products for sale were Chinese brands, and possibly 
smuggled, many computer products appeared to be counterfeit. 
Also readily available were digital terrestrial decoder 
boxes, used to receive the 100 percent pirated Vietnam 
Television Technology Investment and Development Company 
(VTC) programming. 
 
How DO those counterfeit goods end up in Hanoi? 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
4. (SBU) Econ/C visited the Tan Thanh "frontier economic 
zone," a border checkpoint established to permit the 
movement of Vietnamese and Chinese citizens and goods from 
border areas, and the least formal of the five border 
crossings in Lang Son province.  Citizens of the two 
countries are allowed to cross without visas, but cannot go 
more than 30 kilometers from the border.  According to 
customs officials, there has been a significant increase in 
cross-border trade in recent years, evidenced by increased 
tax revenues.  Officials claimed that fruit comprises 80 
percent of imports through the Tan Thanh checkpoint. 
(Comment:  Given the amount of cheap Chinese electronics for 
sale in the Lang Son market and the fact that Tan Thanh 
customs officials inspect only 13 percent of shipments, this 
statistic could easily be unreliable.  We also note that Ref 
B reports that according to the Vietnamese Consul General in 
Nanning, China primarily exports machinery equipment and raw 
materials to Vietnam and Vietnam exports bananas and 
agricultural products to China.  End comment.)  Machines, 
consumables, and motorbikes enter Lang Son through one of 
two international or two national checkpoints. 
 
5. (SBU) Customs officials claimed that they have not seen 
counterfeit goods at the Tan Thanh checkpoint, but noted 
that by law, they are allowed to stop goods only if they 
receive a petition from enterprises, which has not occurred. 
A number of raids have been have carried out in the border 
area in cooperation with the police and border army, and 
customs officials suggested this has resulted in a decrease 
in smuggling counterfeit goods through the checkpoint. 
Seized products included DVDs that were destroyed by a 
 
HANOI 00000678  002 OF 002 
 
 
specially convened taskforce.  Customs officials said they 
have made efforts to strengthen IPR enforcement by paying 
increased attention to trademarks, but cited the need for 
training and more detailed regulations. 
 
Avian Influenza, TIP, Drugs, and Textiles 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) Officials said that measures implemented to prevent 
the import of poultry infected with avian influenza (AI) 
from China through Lang Son province, which has not had any 
reported cases of AI, were effective, and have resulted in 
an 80-90 percent decrease in the number of smuggled birds. 
However, smugglers have continued using unofficial crossings 
on Lang Son's long border with China.  Customs officials 
said that any discovered birds were promptly destroyed. 
(Note: Vietnamese media reported recently that Chinese 
chickens and ducks are being smuggled in large numbers due 
to their low price compared to birds raised in Vietnam.  End 
Note.) 
 
7. (SBU) Customs officials stated that they had not seen 
many cases of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), though they were 
aware of the problem and said that a number of victims had 
escaped from China and returned to Vietnam, where they 
received assistance from the Government.  In most cases, 
young women are lured to China with the promise of high 
paying jobs that end up being prostitution.  The customs, 
police and border armies of both countries work closely 
together on this issue.  Drug smuggling continues to be a 
problem in the area.  Police have intercepted a number of 
smuggling operations, and seized 3.6 kilos of heroin in the 
largest drug bust. 
 
8.  (SBU) Officials also stated that there had been no 
instances of textile transshipments through the checkpoint. 
They claimed that no completely or partially finished 
garments were imported, only fabric and fiber. 
 
Valuation Procedures 
-------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) Customs officials were aware of Vietnam's 
requirement that duties from most countries be assessed 
based on transaction value.  They stated that customs 
officers inspect receipts, which they can check against an 
information system, and may adjust the price if they suspect 
fraud.  While the office had computers, they can only 
process email.  A World Bank customs project is expected to 
provide funding for them to link to a modern system. 
 
Comment: 
------- 
 
10. (SBU) Geography has given Lang Son province the 
potential to benefit from growing trade between Vietnam and 
China.  However, the poor and winding road from Tan Thanh to 
Lang Son City will have to improve for this to become a more 
important trade route.  While officials appeared confident 
in their assertions that most of what came in was fruit, 
they were not entirely convincing.  For one thing, many 
Vietnamese in Hanoi will not eat fruit from China since the 
popular notion is that it contains excessive amounts of 
chemicals.  A popular Hanoi anecdote is of an allegedly 
Chinese apple that retained its apparent freshness for two 
months outside.  Given this apparent consumer distaste for 
Chinese fruit, it is entirely possible that this border 
crossing affords an attractive entry point for the many 
illegal items such as counterfeit DVDs and handbags that are 
evident in Hanoi and elsewhere. 
 
MARINE