Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Vinh Quang addresses the event (Photo: VNA)Vietnam is at the heart of the priorities in theIndo-Pacific Strategy that Canada is implementing, the official stressed at a ceremonyheld in Montreal city of Quebec by the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) tocelebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomaticrelations.
He said that the Indo-Pacific is currently the secondlargest international export market for the province of Quebec and also oneof Canada's markets with the strongest growth rate in recent years, adding since 2018when the CPTPP took effect, the Quebec government has supported more than 250businesses in this province to expand operations to Vietnam, the official said.
In 2023, the CABC has organised many activities to promoteCanadia’s trade and investment in ASEAN, with a special focus on Vietnam on theoccasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the twocountries. Most recently, it coordinated with the Canadian Consulate Generalin Ho Chi Minh City to hold a Clean Energy Partnership forum as part of aprogramme to support the Vietnamese Government and businesses in energy transitionand climate change response to ensure energy security, he noted.
For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham VinhQuang said that Vietnam always considers Canada as a true friend and partner.
After half a century, the two sides have witnessed positivechanges in their relations, with the establishment of a comprehensive partnershipin 2017. Vietnam-Canada relations have contributed to realising Canada'sIndo-Pacific Strategy and its strategic partnership with the ASEAN region,noted the diplomat.
Canada is one of the most important partners of Vietnam andthe country’s second biggest trade partner in America, he said, adding thatVietnam is Canada’s largest trade partner among the ASEAN member countries and agateway for Canadian firms to enter this region.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, CABC Executive Director TB Nguyen said that the administration ofQuebec is giving priorities to Vietnam and considers the country as a newintersection in the global value chain due as Vietnam possesses huge potential in manyfields that Quebec is interested in.
Director General of the Indo-Pacific Region Gabriel Chartierof the Quebec Ministry of International Relations and Francophonie said thatQuebec and Vietnam share many similarities on the foundation of theFrancophonie culture. The two sides have share close cooperation, especiallysince they signed a cooperation agreement in 1992, which has resulted in 125joint projects.
The Canadian official noted that two-way trade exceeded 2billion CAD (1.5 billion USD), with Vietnam mainly importing electronicequipment, agricultural and medical products from Quebec, and exportingelectronics, footwear and garment to the Canadian locality. The two sides arealso cherishing many new cooperation projects, contributing to diversifying thecooperative relationship, including those in culture, sustainable developmentand technology research.
Canada is joining other G7 countries in realising thecommitment to supporting Vietnam in mobilising 15.5 billion USD to achieve thegoal of zero emissions by 2050. Sharing similar goals, the CABC will coordinatewith other parties to implement the commitment, he stated.
The CABC was established in 2012 by Canadian companies operatingin ASEAN. The organisation, headquartered in Singapore and runs anoffice in Montreal, is responsible for promoting and strengthening trade relationsbetween Canada and ASEAN./.
VNA
