VN, Canada promote Comprehensive Partnership

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau - Photo: VGP

Viet Nam and Canada established diplomatic relationship in 1973 and released the Joint Statement on the establishment of Comprehensive Partnership in November 2017, focusing on seven cooperative areas, including politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, development and cooperation, defense-security, culture-education, science-technology and people-to-people exchanges. 

Viet Nam is currently the largest trade partner of Canada among ASEAN nations. The two-way trade turnover in 2017 reached nearly US$5 billion. Canada poured US$4.1 billion in 149 projects in Viet Nam, ranking 14^th among 112 nations and territories investing in Viet Nam.    

Recently, Canada announced an Official Development Assistance (ODA) for two co-operative development projects in Viet Nam, which helps the nation cope with climate change and carry out two food safety projects. 

The number of Vietnamese students to Canada doubled over the recent decade with 12,000 ones, the highest figure among ASEAN countries. 

Defense and security cooperation have been maintained through delegation exchanges at all levels and meetings on the sidelines of multi-lateral forums, experience exchange and English training courses, participation on United Nations peacekeeping missions, search rescue, humanitarian works, crime and immigration prevention.    

The expanded G7-Summit will be organized from June 8-9 in Quebec, Canada with the participation of seven highly industrialized countries of the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the EU and guest nations consisting of Viet Nam, Argentina, Bangladesh, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles and some international organizations. 

The agenda of the summit focuses on discussions on enhancing gender equality, empowering women, investment in inclusive growth, joint action in response to climate change, protection of oceans and development of clean energy and establishment of a more peaceful and safer world. 

Canada’s invitation for the Vietnamese PM to attend the expanded G-7 Summit has manifested the increasing role and status of Viet Nam in the world. The event’s topics and contents are suitable with the nation’s concerns and benefits, as the country is seriously suffering from climate change and high-sea level rise. 

The official visit to Canada, held on the occasion that the two nations are celebrating the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic ties, heads to maintain and develop the Viet Nam-Canada Comprehensive Partnership, increase mutual knowledge and trust, promote cooperative opportunities in all fields and upgrade the relationship more practically and effectively. 

By Thuy Dung