Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Canada’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Marta Morgan on July 9 co-chaired the 2nd Vietnam - Canada political consultation at the deputy foreign ministeriallevel, which was held in the video conference format.

The two sides highlighted the fruitful development of bilateral relations, especiallyafter they established a Comprehensive Partnership in 2017 and began implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

They agreed to continue maintaining the exchange of delegationsat all levels in flexible forms, in which the Canadian side affirmed that it willattend the 53rd ASEAN ForeignMinisters’ Meeting and relevant meetings scheduled for July 31 to August 5.

The two sides agreed to further promote their economic, trade, and investment ties andto fully tap into opportunities from the trend towards trade diversification anddiffering supply chains after COVID-19, and in the context of Vietnam being Canada’slargest trade partner in ASEAN and Canada being Vietnam’s third-largest trade partnerin North America.

The two officials affirmed the continued promotion of cooperation in security anddefence, health, education and training, climate change response, clean energy development,and relations between localities in the two countries.

In the context of COVID-19 continuing to be complex and unpredictable, the two sidesagreed to enhance the sharing of information and to create favourable conditionsfor the citizens of each country to return home safely if stranded in the other.

Morgan thanked Vietnam for arranging a flight to bring stranded Canadians home, sayingher country also supported Vietnam in organising three flights taking Vietnamesecitizens home.

For his part, Son proposed Canada continue licensing flights bringing Vietnamesecitizens home and to provide support to citizens, especially students, whoremain in the country.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, Morgan highly valued the role of Vietnam asASEAN Chair 2020, expressing the desire to participate more deeply in regional institutions,including the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM ) and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

The two sides pledged to work closely at international and regional forums thisyear, as Vietnam assumes both the ASEAN Chairmanship and non-permanent membershipof the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

They also exchanged views onregional and international issues of mutual concern, including those related tothe East Sea./.