VLADIVOSTOK. Oct 22 (Interfax) - The coronavirus pandemic and a shortage of facilities at checkpoints on the Russian-Chinese border in Primorye prevent these checkpoints from beginning to work round the clock in the near future, Sergei Pankratov, acting head of the Far Eastern Customs Directorate, said.
"Unfortunately, it's impossible [to start working] round the clock. We're attempting to start working round the clock with our available capabilities, the available number of staff. This has already been done at the multilateral auto checkpoint Zabaikalsk, one of the largest checkpoints in the Transbaikal Territory. We [in Primorye] currently haven't [done that]. Among the things that deter us is the pandemic," Pankratov told a press conference in Vladivostok on Thursday.
Measures are being taken to extend the working hours of the checkpoints, he said. Specifically, the checkpoint Kraskino works 12 hours a day, not eight, and the checkpoint works seven days a week, not six.
"Unfortunately, we currently cannot start working round the clock due to the physical infrastructure," Pankratov said.
According to earlier reports, Russia and China are considering the possibility of introducing a 24/7 work schedule at the Pogranichny (Russia)-Suifenhe (China) and Kraskino (Russia)-Hunchun (China) checkpoints.
Russia informed the Chinese authorities about the work done at the checkpoints Pogranichny and Kraskino to introduce a 24/7 work mode there during the third session of the Russian-Chinese commission on cooperation and development of the Far East and the Baikal region of Russia and northeastern China held in late September. The parties agreed to study the possibility of introducing a 24/7 work mode at these checkpoints.
Checkpoints between Russia and China are currently closed to citizens due to the coronavirus epidemic. Cargo carriers cross the checkpoints only based on electronic requests, which are filed in advance.