VN hails Canada’s positive foreign policy

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Canadian FM Stéphane Dion, Ha Noi, September 5, 2016 – Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

At the invitation of Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh, Canadian FM Stéphane Dion is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from September 3-8. The two leaders held talks on September 5 in Ha Noi.

After talks, they chaired a press briefing in which Deputy PM Minh revealed that the two sides discussed ways to spur the bilateral ties in all fields.

Viet Nam extremely attaches importance to promote relations with Canada, a member of G7 groups.

The two countries' two-way trade turnover touched over US$ 4 billion.  Canada poured US$ 5 billion of FDI to Viet Nam. The figures remained modest as the two sides owned broad potentials for further economic cooperation.

Deputy PM Minh took the occasion to thank Canada for its ODA provision for Viet Nam (around US$ 800 million since 1990) and hoped that the country would continue to support the recipient to access preferential loans from the International Development Association (IDA) in 2017.

Both sides agreed to accelerate exchanges of high-ranking delegations; boost dialogue mechanisms; and attach more importance to trade, investment, and development.

They talked international and regional issues of common concern, especially measures to maintain peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and aviation; and peaceful solutions to the East Sea issues in respect for peace and international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  

For his part, FM Stéphane Dion affirmed that the Canadian Government always hopes to cement and deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations, especially Viet Nam.

Minister Stéphane Dion announced a credit package of US$ 15 million for Vietnamese SMEs.

The guest leader suggested the two sides seek ways to raise the number of overseas Vietnamese students (around 5,000 at present) in Canada in the coming time.

He also expressed his delight to witness Viet Nam’s recent progresses in ensuring human rights and hoped that the two countries would continue to cooperate in the field./.

By Khanh Phuong