Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison in Hanoi on December 14, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Anh Son)

Foreign Minister Son briefed the guest on remarkable achievements the two countries have recorded since they established diplomatic ties 50 years ago, noting regular contacts and good relations between their leaders have created a firm premise for the bilateral ties to grow further.

The Foreign Minister suggested the two sides step up high-level delegation exchanges in 2024, boost multi-faceted cooperation, and optimise the existing dialogue mechanisms such as political consultation, the Vietnam-Canada joint economic committee, and defence policy dialogue, while expanding collaboration in health care, energy transition, and clean technology, along with cooperation between localities.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Son asked Deputy Minister Morrison to convey his invitations to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng to visit Vietnam.

Overview of the meeting. (Photo: WVR/Anh Son)

For his part, Deputy Minister Morrison praised achievements Vietnam has gained in politics, foreign affairs, and socio-economic development over the past years, stressing Canada’s hope to deepen the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam.

Mentioning Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, he said it shows the priority that the country gives to Asia-Pacific, in which Vietnam is considered a leading partner and a bridge between Canada and the region.

The official agreed with Foreign Minister Son’s proposals and committed to further supporting Vietnam in different fields, including climate change, clean energy, peace-keeping operations, and agriculture.

Canada will continue its close coordination with Vietnam at regional and international forums like the United Nations (UN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), he said.

The same day, Deputy Minister Morrison and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc co-chaired the third Vietnam-Canada Deputy Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc and Canadian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Morrison. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

The two sides reviewed developments of the bilateral ties across spheres, particularly politics, diplomacy, economy-trade, development cooperation, national defence-security, and education-training.

Deputy Minister Ngoc noted with pleasure the impressive growth of the two-way trade that rose 16.5% last year to more than 7 billion USD, and called on Canada to increase its investments in Vietnam.

The Deputy Foreign Minister used the occasion to thank the Canada Government for providing official development assistance worth over 1.76 billion USD to Vietnam since 1990.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc and Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Morrison co-chaired the third Vietnam-Canada Deputy Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation in Hanoi, on December 14, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

Deputy Minister Morrison emphasised that Canada wants to diversify and expand its trade ties with Vietnam, particularly in agricultural export and collaboration with Vietnam within the CPTPP, he said, suggesting Vietnam work with Canada to promote the ASEAN-Canada strategic partnership.

The two sides consented to maintain all-level delegation exchanges, foster cooperation in economy, trade, investment, national defence-security, development cooperation, education-training, and health care.

They will also expand cooperation in such areas as climate change response, energy transition, and clean technology, cooperation between localities.

The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern, and concurred to maintain their close coordination at regional and international forums.