HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City has advised Laos to develop standards for food products exported to Vietnam in terms of food hygiene and safety, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.

The city's retailers have also suggested Lao businesses to organize more trade promotion events and increase capacity to ensure a stable supply of products so the two sides can maintain a long-term partnership, .

Vietnam-Laos trade exchanges, particularly border trade, have remained below expectations with limited support services for imports and exports and poor transport links between the two countries.

Last year, two-way trade between Ho Chi Minh City and Laos was over 8 million U.S. dollars.

Vietnam and Laos have targeted bilateral trade of 5 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.