Hanoi, 14 April 2022 (TDI): The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Melanie Joly, visited Vietnam to boost bilateral relations as part of her Indo-Pacific visit. She met government officials, experts, and community leaders to advance collaboration between our two countries.
Moreover, she also met the staff of Canadian Missions in Vietnam.
Canada maintains its Embassy in Hanoi and a Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Foreign Minister said, “from consular affairs to growing bilateral relations, our foreign service members dedicate their lives to representing Canada and supporting Canadians. While abroad, it is always special to meet and thank them”.
Furthermore, she met with Nguyen Hong Dien, the Minister of Trade for Vietnam. The officials spoke about expanding economic integration between both countries.
They especially mentioned the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, through which they can enhance their partnership. Canada and Vietnam signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2018.
Afterward, “les Francophonie” welcomed Melanie Joly. She Joined the alumni of French-Canadian institutions to celebrate and preserve the French language.
Finally, she met Phạm Minh Chính, the Prime Minister of Vietnam.
The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for welcoming her to Hanoi.
The leaders discussed common priorities in bilateral relations.
Recalling 50 Years of diplomatic partnership, the Foreign Minister expressed Canada’s determination to strengthen commercial relations with Vietnam.
In addition, she also talked about strengthening the role of Canada in the Indo-pacific region. Previously, the Canadian Foreign Minister visited Jakarta to meet Indonesian and ASEAN officials.
Canada-Vietnam Relations
Both countries established diplomatic ties in 1973. Since then, Canada and Vietnam have enjoyed increasingly cordial relations. In 2018, two-way trade between both nations was about US$6.4 billion.
Vietnam has been Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN since 2015. Mutual commercial interests are focused on agriculture, education, information technologies, clean technology, and infrastructure.
