Top leader To Lam meets Canadian Governor General Louise Arbour

Arbour congratulated Viet Nam on its impressive socio-economic development achievements, and spoke highly of the country's growing international stature and role, as well as its development orientations and goals in the new era.

Canada and Viet Nam are both Pacific nations sharing many common interests in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, she noted, adding that Canada regards Viet Nam as an important partner in the region.

Building on a relationship consistently strengthened over generations, it is the time for the two sides to work together to elevate Viet Nam-Canada relations to a new level, stated the host.

Canada stands ready to leverage its strengths in resources, technology, education, energy, agriculture and finance to enhance cooperation with Viet Nam, emphasized the Canadian leader.

The North America nation is also willing to accompany Viet Nam in promoting cooperation in areas of mutual interest, taking advantages of the strengths and potential of both countries and delivering tangible benefits to their peoples, she stressed.

To Lam, for his part, affirmed that Viet Nam consistently attaches importance to its relations with Canada, and highly valued the important progress made in the bilateral ties after nearly a decade of implementing the Comprehensive Partnership framework.

He proposed that the two sides continue to increase contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly at the high level; consolidate political trust; further promote the role of existing cooperation mechanisms; and strengthen coordination and mutual support at regional and multilateral forums.

Regarding economic, trade and investment cooperation, To Lam urged the two countries to make effective use of existing cooperation and economic integration frameworks, expand markets, strengthen supply-chain connectivity, and encourage Canadian businesses and investment funds to make long-term investments in Viet Nam.

He also called for further collaboration in transport, infrastructure, logistics and connectivity.

The two countries should create new growth drivers by fostering stronger ties in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, while expanding collaboration in energy, green development, environmental protection, climate change response, healthcare, high-tech agriculture, food security and sustainable development, recommended the guest.

Regarding defense and security cooperation, he suggested that the two sides reinforce cooperation in areas consistent with their respective interests and needs, with a focus on training and capacity building, UN peacekeeping, maritime security, war legacy remediation, search and rescue, combating transnational crime and addressing non-traditional security challenges.

Cooperation in education and training, culture and people-to-people exchanges should continue to serve as an important foundation for the long-term development of the bilateral relations, stated the top Vietnamese leader.

Amid a world facing numerous intertwined changes and challenges, both sides underscored the need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, uphold multilateralism, and respect the United Nations Charter and international law.

The two sides vowed to promote coordination at the United Nations, ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Francophonie, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and other multilateral mechanisms.

The host and the guest voiced their support for ASEAN centrality and Canada's efforts to deepen engagement and cooperation with the bloc and the Asia-Pacific region, while jointly contributing to addressing common challenges and promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world./.