Workshop highlights 50 years of Vietnam – Canada diplomatic ties

In his keynote speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong reviewed major milestones in the Vietnam – Canada relations over the past five decades, noting the ties have developed more comprehensively, substantively, effectively, and sustainably both bilaterally and multilaterally.

According to the ambassador, the two countries agree to maintain international peace, stability and security, and comply with the Charter of the United Nations and principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They share common interests for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region, and support the maintenance of a rules-based order in the seas and oceans, including the East Sea. They voice their support for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea in accordance with international law.

The two countries also support the central role of ASEAN in the regional architecture.

The diplomat stressed both sides underline the importance of protecting and promoting human rights in accordance with their national constitutions and international commitments, and in compliance with the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Both sides agree to treat trade and investment on the principle of reciprocity as an important factor guiding their relationship.

In addition, he said the two countries support strong people-to-people exchanges across various fields such as business, academia, media, culture, sports, and tourism among others.

Steve Rutchinski, a member of CVFS, revealed this year the society plans to host a number of online forums, focusing on a number of topics such as Vietnam’s successful poverty reduction campaign, social programmes in the country, and justice for Vietnamese people affected by dioxin/Agent Orange.

He also informed every year more than 100,000 Canadians visit Vietnam to learn about the country’s thousand-year-old culture. Thousands of young Canadians have come to Vietnam to work and contribute to its economy since Doi Moi (Renewal) was launched in 1986.

At the workshop, delegates shared views about Vietnam’s important position in Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, as well as measures to promote bilateral relations.

Currently Vietnam has advantages over other partners in the Asia-Pacific region by recoding high economic growth and relatively low inflation. It is also the only ASEAN member economy that has developed comprehensive cooperation mechanisms with Canada, including the Vietnam - Canada Comprehensive Partnership Agreement, and the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between Vietnam and Canada.