Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always treasures and wishes to strengthen itscomprehensive partnership with Canada in an effective and practical manner,President Tran Dai Quang has affirmed.

The State leader made the affirmation at a reception in Hanoi on July 26 foroutgoing Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Ping Kitnikone.

President Quang said he is pleased with the comprehensive and significantdevelopment of the Vietnam-Canada ties over the past time, noting that the twocountries have shared a number of interests in bilateral relations as well asat regional and global forums.

He recalled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s attendance in the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang city and his official visit toVietnam in November 2017, during which the two nations set up theircomprehensive partnership.

Vietnam and Canada are coordinating well in organising activities to mark the45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, hesaid.

According to President Quang, together with the solidification of ties intraditional fields such as exchange of all-level delegations,economy-trade-investment, development cooperation, education-training, andpeople-to-people exchange, the two countries should enhance collaboration in areaswith great potential like defence-security, science-technology, climate changeresponse, sustainable development, and infrastructure development.

Ambassador Ping Kitnikone stressed that the establishment of the Vietnam-Canadacomprehensive partnership has created a foundation for the two nations toexpand their relations in all fields, from politics and defence-security toeducation-training, science-technology, and people-to-people exchange.

It also offered an opportunity for the strengthening of cooperation atmultilateral forums and organisations such as the United Nations, theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the International Organisation of Francophone,the World Trade Organisation, and the Comprehensive Partnershipand Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), she added.

Canada supports Vietnam in its bid to become a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council for the 2020-2021 tenure and believes the country will wellperform this role, said the ambassador.

According to Ping Kitnikone, trade, investment and education are dynamicdevelopment cooperation areas between Vietnam and Canada in recent years.Vietnam has become the largest trade partner of Canada in ASEAN.

Canada appreciates the academic achievements of around 14,000 Vietnamesestudents in the country, she said, adding that his nation prioritises grantingscholarships to Asian students, 30 percent of which will be dedicated toVietnamese.

Sharing views with the diplomat, President Quang said Vietnam applauds theCanadian Government’s policy of increasing connectivity with the world,particularly the Asia-Pacific, as well as attaching importance to relationswith Vietnam and ASEAN. 

Thanking the Canadian Government for backing Vietnam in international issues,President Quang said the two countries need to further their cooperation, bothregionally and internationally, while continuing coordination at importantmultilateral forums and mechanisms like the UN, APEC, ASEAN, the International Organisation of Francophone,and CPTPP.-VNA