Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong held separate meetings with several foreign legislative leaders on the sidelines of a policy consultation of G20 parliamentary speakers in Canada on Sept. 4.

During his talks with the Canadian Senate Speaker, Noel A. Kinsella, Trong suggested the two countries increase the exchange of visits at all levels and cooperate in training technicians.

Kinsella applauded the attendance and opinion of Trong and the Vietnamese delegation at the meeting, saying that they reflected Vietnam’s proactive stance and efforts in building a better world.

The speaker said the parliaments of Canada and Vietnam should seek ways to facilitate business ties and push executive bodies to effectively implement already signed cooperation agreements.

Kinsella proposed the two sides step up education and training cooperation projects and double the number of Canadian and Vietnamese students studying in each other’s country, helping to preserve the Vietnamese culture and language among Canadians of Vietnamese origin.

Canada and Vietnam can also increase aquaculture and maritime cooperation, thus facilitating the flow of Vietnamese goods to the North American market via Canada ’s seaports.

The speaker said he hoped that in its capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Vietnam would support Canada ’s bid to run for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

Trong agreed with Kinsella’s proposals and invited him to soon pay a visit to Vietnam . The speaker accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Meeting with the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Jiang Shusheng, Trong said the Party, State, National Assembly and people of Vietnam always attach importance to and spare no efforts to develop the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China .

The two officials noted with pleasure the rapid and comprehensive development of bilateral relations in recent years, especially in the fields of economy and trade. Two-way trade value exceeded 21 billion USD in 2009 despite the adverse impacts of the global financial crisis.

Both sides agreed to continue close coordination in organising celebrations for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the Vietnam-China Friendship Year in 2010, and well deploy agreements already signed between the two nations.

At the meeting with the Deputy Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, Alexander Torshin, Trong said Vietnam always highly values Russia ’s role in boosting cooperation within G20.

As AIPA Chair, Vietnam’s attendance in the G20 parliamentary policy consultation will contribute to the enhancement of relations between the Vietnamese parliament and its counterparts of G20 countries, he said.

The Russian legislative leader affirmed that increasing friendly and cooperative ties with Vietnam is a priority for Russia's legislature.

While talking with the Vice Chairman of the Japanese House of Councillors, Otsuji Hidehisa, Trong applauded Japan's support for Vietnam ’s joining in the G20 Summit in its position as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The lawmaker said Japan is now a leading partner of Vietnam in terms of economics, trade, investment, labour, official development assistance (ODA) and funding for the preservation of cultural projects. He took this occasion to thank Japan for its cooperation and support to Vietnam , both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Hidehisa emphasised the need to enhance exchanges between Japanese and ASEAN parliamentarians, and affirmed that Japan will send a delegation to attend the AIPA-31 meeting in Vietnam .

Also on Sept. 4, NA Chairman Trong met with representatives of overseas Vietnamese in Canada./.