Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and Laos topped US$232 million during the first quarter of this year, up 57 per cent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Of the total, $96 million came from Viet Nam’s exports, up 78 per cent over the same period last year. The two countries plan to foster trade promotion efforts and create more favourable conditions for enterprises to meet and seek co-operative opportunities, in a bid to reach $1 billion in bilateral trade this year.-VNS