Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien has expressed optimism that the bilateral trade between the two countries will reach $2 billion mark in 2023 when the two countries will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. In the first nine months of 2022 calendar year, the bilateral trade turnover between the two countries has reached $1.1 billion and it is expected to reach $1.5 billion by end of December. “If this trend keeps continuing, I hope that trade between the two countries will reach $2 billion in 2023,” Ambassador Chien told UNB in an interview, terming the economic relations between the two countries “robust”.   Read more: Bangladesh-Vietnam direct flights may begin this year-end Responding to a question, the Vietnamese envoy said he has always encouraged Bangladeshi businesses to promote more Bangladeshi goods and services to the Vietnamese people so that Bangladesh can export more products to the Vietnam market.  “I think there is a lot of potential to further boost the economic relations between the two countries - from manufacturing industry to agriculture,” he said seeking more cooperation with each other as economic cooperation is one of the most significant features of the bilateral relations between the two countries.