The Chinese government has relaxed the rules and regulations regarding the prevention of Covid at the Kan Pike Ti and Lwegel border trade points in Kachin state on the Myanmar-China border.

A banana trader said "It’s true. They have eased the pandemic control rules and said they would allow free flow of goods. Before the covid outbreaks, 200 -300 cars to crossed the border and delivered products on the busiest days. When the anti- Covid restrictions were imposed, it was not easy for even 10 cars a day to cross the border. Now the rules are relaxed, there are around 30 to 40 cars going in and out a day. I hope it will gradually increase later on.”

A Myanmar trader at the Kan Pike Ti border trading post told KNG that since the Chinese government relaxed restrictions on December 10th, the flow of goods is expected to be twice as much as before covid 19 restriction, according to an optimistic assessment.

However on the Myanmar side, businesspeople and traders continue to apply some of the previous rules for exports to China requiring the spraying disinfectants on bananas and other goods.

“ On the Myanmar side, we are still continuing to spray disinfectants. Myanmar’ s banana producers are continuing to practice according to the regulations that they have agreed to and signed. We are also working closely with the relevant departments to disinfect the banana workshops”, an official of the Kachin State Agriculture and Crops Production Association said at the Kan Pike Ti border trading gate.

In the past according to strict Covid regulations, banana truck drivers had to undergo a 15-day quarantine for each trip, and had to wait in line three times to receive Covid tests along the way, before they could gain entry to China, so there were many delays.

“ Since the easing of border trade restrictions now it has become quite free. In the past it was not easy for the truck drivers. Now quarantine is no longer necessary. Previously it took a long time to find a replacement for the quarantined driver, and to wait for the cars to be sprayed with disinfectants. It is great that all these restrictions have been eased”, a banana truck driver from Lwegel commented.

In 2021 and 2022, due to the regulations imposed by the Chinese government to control the pandemic, tissue-culture banana plantation operators in Kachin state faced difficulties such as low banana yields, being overripe and wasted, labor costs as well as extra cost for spraying disinfectants, and suffered losses, according to the businesspersons.