Vietnamese, Canadian FMs seek ways to boost bilateral partnership

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) and his Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly meet in Hanoi on April 13. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son andhis Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly discussed measures to further deepen theVietnam-Canada partnership during talks in Hanoi on April 13.

Son welcomed the first Vietnamese visit by Joly as Vietnam andCanada celebrate the 5th anniversary of their comprehensivepartnership, affirming that the visit will contribute to reinforcing tiesbetween the two countries and the two ministries.

Joly said that her country attaches great importance torelations with Vietnam and hopes to expand the bilateral partnership,especially in economy and trade.

She affirmed that Canada will strengthen cooperation withand support for Vietnam in responding to climate change and realising the commitmentsthat it made during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference(COP26).

Both sides shared delight at the positive growth ofVietnam-Canada ties across all fields, with two-way trade reaching over 6 billionUSD in 2021, up 19 percent over 2020 despite the difficulties brought byCOVID-19. Coordination in education, training, climate change response andpandemic control has also been strengthened, they noted.

The talks between the Vietnamese and Canadian foreign ministers in Hanoi on April 13 (Photo: VNA)

Son proposed that the two sides continue to increase delegationexchanges at all levels, resume bilateral dialogue mechanisms and make full useof opportunities from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He suggested Canada continue to openits door for Vietnamese products and farm produce, while increasing support toVietnam during its post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development.Canada should recognise Vietnam’s vaccine passport, while creating favourableconditions for the Vietnamese community in Canada to settle down, he added.

During the talks, the two FMs shared viewpoints on regionaland international issues of shared concern. Regarding the East Sea issue, bothsides affirmed the need to uphold international law, including the 1982 UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They agreed to continue to work closelytogether at regional and international multilateral forums such as the UN,APEC, ASEAN, and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Over the Ukraine matter, FM Son highlighted Vietnam’sconsistent policy of supporting the settlement of international disputesthrough peaceful measures with respect to the UN Charter and fundamentalprinciples of international law. Vietnam calls for an immediate end to the useof force that causes casualties among civilians and infrastructure, includingVietnamese people in Ukraine, he said. Son stressed that Vietnam is willing tomake positive contributions to humanitarian support activities, diplomaticprocesses, dialogue and negotiations, as well as reconstruction and developmentprocess in Ukraine./.

VNA