STORY: A glimpse of life of cross-border commuter at China-Vietnam border
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 16, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 20, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:00
LOCATION: DONGXING, China/MONG CAI, Vietnam
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Dongxing, south China's Guangxi
2. STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG KAIYING, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of Ngo Thi Thuy, a vietnamese trader
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): FAN CHUNLI, Dongxing customs official
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
6. STANDUP 2 (English): HUANG KAIYING, Xinhua correspondent
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): YAO OUOU, Staff member of market supervision authorities in Dongxing
9.  various of the China-Vietnam border
10. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter/HU JIALI, Xinhua correspondent
11. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
11. STANDUP 3 (Chinese): HU JIALI, Xinhua correspondent
12. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG KAIYING, Xinhua correspondent
"This is a 111-meter bridge connecting China's Dongxing, which is where I stand, and Vietnam's Mong Cai. We are about to meet a cross-border commuter from Vietnam. Every working day, she travels back and forth between the two cities for work."

Ngo Thi Thuy needs to clear customs before heading to work at her shop in Wangzhong International Wholesale Market in Dongxing, just a short walk from the border.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): FAN CHUNLI, Dongxing customs official
"The number of Vietnamese visitors we clear for entry is estimated to be over 6,000 every day, making up about 30 percent of the daily total. We use data from our inbound traffic tracker to adjust the number of open checkpoints, ensuring that everyone in lines can pass through customs in just a few minutes."

The Wangzhong market is a must-see for tourists and is buzzing with cross-border commuters like Ngo.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
"I opened my own shop here in Dongxing in 2016. At first, my inventory was quite limited. But now my business has been thriving and I've expanded the selection of goods to meet the needs of my growing customer base. Right now, I'm busy packaging goods specifically for my regulars."

STANDUP 2 (English): HUANG KAIYING, Xinhua correspondent
"Another friend request from a regular! What's the farthest place your customers come from?"

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
"I would say Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (in northwest China). As the Chinese New Year is approaching, many people are looking to buy gifts for family and friends. The past few days have been hectic, with a lot of goods waiting to be shipped out."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): YAO OUOU, Staff member of market supervision authorities in Dongxing
"A slew of preferential policies has drawn an increasing number of Vietnamese small businesses operating here. By the end of last year, we had registered 1,154 individual businesses and 58 foreign-owned companies from Vietnam. These businesses offer a wide array of products including Vietnamese foods, clothing, and handicrafts."

As the workday came to an end, Ngo set off on her journey home and crossed the border back to her homeland.

Xinhua's Hu Jiali was waiting at the Vietnamese side of the footbridge to greet her.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter/HU JIALI, Xinhua correspondent
"We're off work."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
"The business has gotten better and better. My regulars play a big role in propping up my business, so it is definitely on the rise."

STANDUP 3 (Chinese): HU JIALI, Xinhua correspondent
"Do you have any plans to seek out more growth opportunities?"

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): NGO THI THUY, Vietnamese commuter
"Definitely. I intend to scale up my operation and expand my customer base."

As night fell over Mong Cai, Ngo hopped on her motorcycle and headed home. As a regular cross-border commuter, Ngo believes that the quality of her life will continue to improve with each passing day.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dongxing, China and Mong Cai, Vietnam.
(XHTV)