PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau (Photo: VNA)Ottawa (VNA) - Braving the pandemic, Vietnam and Canada haveworked to promote bilateral relations over the course of the last year,Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong has affirmed.
In an interview with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Ottawa, Phong said thatfive phone discussions, online meetings, and political consultations were heldbetween officials of both sides during the year, at which Canadian leadersspoke highly of their cooperation with Vietnam and its role as ASEAN Chair2020.
Four Canadian ministers attended five online international conferences held byVietnam, he said, noting that Canadian Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjanexpressed support for Vietnam and ASEAN’s efforts in maintaining peace andstability in the East Sea as well as Southeast Asia at a recent internationalconference on the East Sea.
The year 2020 also saw a milestone in bilateral ties with the establishment ofthe Canadian military attaché office in Hanoi, the ambassador said, adding thatit also helps boost defence relations between the two countries.
Besides, Canada was the country of honour at the VietnamFoodExpo which took place in Ho Chi Minh City in early December.
Phong affirmed that sound political ties have facilitated growth in trade, whichrose 10.8 percent from January to October, with Vietnam’s exports up 15.3percent to 5.1 billion USD and the country enjoying a trade surplus of 4.65trillion USD.
The figures are impressive in the context of the global slowdown, he said,naming several products that have posted substantial revenue growth, such as electronicproducts and parts (up 64.6 percent), mobile phones (42.5 percent), processedseafood (23 percent), and furniture (13.6 percent).
Both sides have enhanced cooperation in the supply chain of essential items tocope with the pandemic. Made-in-Vietnam face masks are now on the shelves ofmany Canadian stores.
Ambassador Phong highlighted another remarkable event during the year, whichwas the Canadian Government’s announcement of a humanitarian assistance packageof 700,000 CAD (over 500,000 USD) for residents hit by the recent floods in Vietnam’scentral region. Canada also gave technical support to Vietnam to carry out theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
In a bid to create a driver for the Vietnam-Canadacomprehensive partnership, Phong recommended officials from both sides continuetheir phone discussions and arrange visits to cement cooperative programmes andplans once the pandemic is fully under control.
It is also necessary to boost cooperation at the local level, especially betweenHCM City and its twin city Toronto, and between Quebec and Vietnamese ministriesand sectors, he said.
Furthermore, he emphasised the significance of enhancing economic links betweenthe two sides, given the complementary nature of the two economies and disruptionsto supply chains.
The diplomat also said both sides need further coordination at internationalforums and to carry out measures to promote cooperation in tourism, education,healthcare, and culture.
Such measures, together with those to enhance political and economic ties, areimportant in cementing the comprehensive partnership set up three years ago andin marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
The ambassador expressed optimism regarding the prospects for bilateralrelations, believing that when the pandemic is controlled globally, Vietnam andCanada will see breakthroughs in relations that meet the expectations of thetwo peoples.
Meanwhile, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation, Christine Nakamura,hailed the cooperation potential between the two countries, especially throughthe CPTPP.
Before the two signed on to the trade pact, they enjoyed stable growth ineconomic ties, she said, adding that the deal will bring even more benefits toboth.
There are many cooperation opportunities with Vietnam, she said, which has beenbetter at responding to the pandemic than other ASEAN member states and isexpected to record positive GDP growth in 2021.
She suggested that healthcare services is a sector with potential for cooperation,since Vietnam will have a rapidly-aging population by 2050, when some 35percent of people will be aged more than 60 years old.
Canadian companies will also be encouraged to engage in the Vietnamese marketif the country welcomes technological innovation, she added./.
VNA
