Vietnam hopes its bilateral trade with Japan will rise to 17 billion U.S. dollars in 2010 from nearly 10 billion dollars in 2006, local newspaper Youth reported Thursday.

The two countries are expected to start negotiating a bilateral trade agreement in the next few days in Japan. The two sides will focus their negotiations on expanding markets for exports of each country.

Vietnam expects stronger export of seafood and farm products to Japan after the negotiations which are estimated to last for one year, said the paper.

Vietnam exported nearly six billion dollars worth of goods, mainly crude oil, coal, textiles and garments, seafood and farm products to Japan in 2006, according to the Vietnamese Trade Ministry.