Prime Minister receives Canadian Secretary of State for International Development
VGP - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday received Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai, Ha Noi, January 6, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
At the meeting, the Prime Minister suggested Canada enhance support for Viet Nam's human resource development by increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students, particularly in advanced technology sectors where Canada holds competitive advantages and Viet Nam has growing demand.
He also suggested that Canada continue considering recognition of the Vietnamese community in Canada as a minority group, alongside adopting more open and favorable visa policies for Vietnamese citizens.
Highlighting the importance of development cooperation, Pham said that the Vietnamese Government highly values Canada's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs in recent years. He noted that Canadian-funded projects have produced practical, measurable results, contributing significantly to Viet Nam's Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021–2025 and its National Development Strategy for 2021–2030.
On regional and multilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister said Viet Nam stands ready to act as a bridge for Canada to strengthen engagement in Southeast Asia and expand collaboration with ASEAN and within ASEAN-led mechanisms.
He also expressed hope that Canada would facilitate Viet Nam's participation in global cooperation initiatives where Canada plays an active role, and continue supporting ASEAN's position on trade liberalization and peaceful dispute settlement in accordance with international law.
For his part, Sarai congratulated Viet Nam on the 80th anniversary of its first National Assembly election and expressed condolences for the damage and losses caused by recent natural disasters.
He affirmed Canada's readiness to support and cooperate with Viet Nam in climate change response, infrastructure development, energy transition, critical mineral exploration and processing, and investment in export-oriented products manufactured in Viet Nam.
Agreeing with the Prime Minister's assessment of bilateral relations, Sarai said Canada is advancing its Indo-Pacific Strategy for the shared benefits of both sides, with a focus on ASEAN centrality and multilateral cooperation frameworks involving both countries./.
