Substantial potential for Vietnam, Canada to advance relations: ambassador

Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Vinh Quang grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Ottawa (VNA) – Vietnam and Canada have obtainednumerous achievements in bilateral relations over the last 50 years, but thereremains substantial potential for them to advance those ties, said VietnameseAmbassador to the North American country Pham Vinh Quang.

He made the remarks during an interview granted to theVietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateraldiplomatic relationship (August 21, 1973 - 2023).

Highlighting the countries’ long-standing connections, hesaid the two sides have maintained frequent high-level mutual visits andmeetings, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Vietnam in 2017,during which the comprehensive partnership was set up, and the Vietnamese PM’sattendance at the G7 Summit in Canada in 2018. Senior leaders of the two countries have also maintained meetings on the sidelines of multilateral conferences and forums. PM Pham Minh Chinh met with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in November 2022 and expanded G7 Summit in Japan in May 2023.

The countries have shared many common viewpoints on regionaland international issues. Meanwhile, the Vietnam - Canada ParliamentaryFriendship Group was established in 2021 and the Canada - Vietnam ParliamentaryFriendship Group, last year. 

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly meet in Hanoi on April 13, 2022. (Photo: VNA)

Trade and investment are among the priority areas of theirrelations. Vietnam is currently Canada's largest trade partner among the ASEAN,which in turn ranks second, after the US, among Vietnam's trade partners inthe Americas. Bilateral trade has continually posted at a double-digit growthrate annually, reaching 7 billion USD in 2022 (or 13 billion USD, including thegoods transited through the US, as calculated by Canada).

As of the end of last year, Canada ranked 14th among the 130 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with nearly 250projects worth almost 5 billion USD. Vietnam invested 150 million USD inCanada, equivalent to 47.5% of its total overseas investment, statistics show.

The twosides established a joint committee on economic affairs in 2022 to fostercooperation in this regard, Quang went on.

He also underlined the developing collaboration indefence - security, education, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, andlocality-to-locality ties.

Since 1990, Canada has remained one of thebiggest suppliers of development assistance for Vietnam, with a total value ofabout 2 billion CAD (nearly 1.5 billion USD).

Talkingabout the potential of bilateral ties, the diplomat said both countries sharemany common viewpoints on regional and international issues; wish to develop anAsian-Pacific region of peace, stability and development on the basis ofinternational law such as the United Nations and the 1982 UN Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS); and want to build order, rules, and regulations onseas, including the East Sea.

Recently, Canada has paid more attention toregional cooperation as seen in its adoption of an Indo-Pacific strategy lastNovember. This September, it will upgrade relations with ASEAN to a strategicpartnership. These are important stepping stones for the two countries as bothwish to nurture sound relations between ASEAN and Canada so as to help promote theirties, according to him.

Producing solar panels at the Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co. Ltd, invested by Canada, in the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park in Hai Phong city. (Photo: VNA)

In terms of economy, trade and investment, Canadais a G7 member and the world’s 14th largest economy while Vietnam isa developing country with a population of about 100 million, a dynamic andcapable workforce, a large market, and attractiveness to foreign investment.Canada views Vietnam as a gateway for it to enter other markets in ASEAN and theAsia-Pacific.

Quang perceived that Vietnam can make use of theNorth American country’s advantages in technology and science to support itsindustrialisation, modernisation, infrastructure development, green economy, energytransition, and climate change response.

Another advantage of bilateral ties that should betapped into is the community of about 300,000 Vietnamese people in Canada,which is a great resource for the relations to grow in all fields, includingpeople-to-people exchanges, education, and development cooperation.

Regarding cooperation at multilateral forums, the two countries have cooperated with each other within the frameworks of ASEAN, theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the International Organisation of LaFrancophonie, and the UN. This is a basis for them to cooperate closely inmultilateral issues, he said.

The ambassador went on to say that 2023 is amemorable year when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversaryof diplomatic ties.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General inVancouver have been holding various celebratory events alongside the activitiesheld by Vietnamese ministries and sectors, and the Canadian Embassy in Hanoi andConsulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

He expressed his hope that thanks to those activities, thecountries can promote cooperation to a new height./.

VNA