Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and 🎃Can💟ada have agreed to focus on stepping up cooperation in economy, trade and investment, and development assistance in the time ahead.
The consensus was reached during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion in Hanoi on September 5.
They said two-way trade increased by 20-25 percent to over 4 billion USD in 2015. Canada’s direct investment exceeded 5 billion USD in the year.
The two sides consented to increase the exchange of delegations, especially at the high-ranking levels, enhance existing dialogue mechanisms, including the political dialogue at the deputy foreign minister level, while expanding dialogue mechanisms in other fields.
They will strengthen coordination at regional and international forums, including the 2016-2020 Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership.
Vietnam welcomes Canada’s engagement in regional forums and support for Vietnam as the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2017.
Host and guest exchanged views on regional political and security situation, covering both traditional and non-traditional challenges.
They also discussed the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea with respect for legal and diplomatic processes, as well as international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), in order to maintain peace, stability, security, and maritime and aviation freedom in the sea.
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh stressed that Vietnam attaches importance to the friendship and cooperation with Canada, while suggesting the two countries give a boost to the relationship for the sake of their people, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.
Stephane Dion announced an aid package worth 15 million CAD (roughly 11.6 million USD) to help Vietnam implement a project on climate change response.
Speaking at a press conference following the talks, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh spoke highly of Canada’s assistance, noting his hope that the country will continue to help Vietnam access preferential loans of the World Bank’s International Development Association after 2017.-VNA
Canada and Vietnam will have a lot of opportunities to bolster their cooperation stemming from their membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion has announced that his country will provide 15 million CAD to help SMEs in Vietnam with initiatives and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion (Source: VNA)
