Vietnam may post US$500mil trade surplus this year

HANOI: Vietnam could post a trade surplus of US$500mil this year, a state-run newspaper reported, citing revised government forecasts, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on imports from neighbouring China amid an ongoing diplomatic row.

The trade ministry forecast exports would rise 10.6% from 2013 to US$146bil, while imports could increase 10.2% to US$145.5bil, the trade ministry-run Industry and Commerce newspaper cited the ministry’s forecasts as showing.