Toronto conference spotlights Vietnam growth after 48 years of reunification. Photo: VNA

About 45 Canadian scholars and experts gathered at an online conference in Toronto on April 24 to discuss the development of the Vietnamese nation and people after 48 years of national reunification.

Philip Fernandez from the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Society (CVFS) said that the historical milestone of the victory on April 30, 1975 was a start of Vietnam's success in various fields, especially economy, diplomacy and human development towards the UN targets.

Vietnamese Consul General in Vancouver Nguyen Quang Trung recalled the difficulties that Vietnam burdened after the national reunification and affirmed its achievements in economy and external relations that have been recognised by the international community.

The results show extraordinary efforts of Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, he stated.

The diplomat noted that Vietnam has posted a growth rate of 6-8% annually since the beginning of the millennium. Particularly, despite Covid-19 pandemic, the country still recorded an expansion of over 8%, the highest level in the recent 10 years.

Vietnam has also continued to maintain friendly relations with all countries in the world, with twice serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Vietnam has always been an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has made responsible contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity, Trung added.

Photo: VNA

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency's correspondents in Ottawa, Dinh Kim Nguyet, an overseas Vietnamese (OV) in Canada, said that the new policies of Vietnam, including those on visa exemption and residence card, have benefited the OV community, enabling them to easily return to and operate in the homeland.

The event was part of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Canada relations (1973-2023).

Vietnam and Canada have enjoyed a fruitful partnership, with two-way trade hitting over CAD 10 billion (over USD 7.3 billion) in 2022. Vietnam has become Canada's largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. The two countries celebrated five years of their comprehensive partnership last year.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Vietnam’s exports to Canada surged by 20.8% annually to USD 5.3 billion, up 75% prior to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) validity. Last year, the figure surpassed USD 6.3 billion, up 19.8% year-on-year.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, apparel was Vietnam’s biggest currency earner from Canada last year with a total turnover of USD 1.3 billion, up 40.3% annually and equivalent to 20.7% of Vietnam’s total exports to the country.

Currently, the two sides maintain people-to-people and economic exchanges through associations and organizations such as the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Association or the Vietnam-Canada Business Association.

In January, the CVFS organized a virtual seminar on the nations’ 50 years of diplomatic and cooperative ties (1973-2023), attracting the participation of Canadian scholars, international friends, and Vietnamese expatriates.

Steve Rutchinski, a member of the CVFS, unveiled the society’s plan to hold a series of virtual forums to foster the Vietnam-Canada ties this year. Their topics are set to cover Vietnam’s successful poverty eradication campaign, social programs, and its journey to claim justice for 40,000 AO/dioxin victims.

Participants took the occasion to discuss the Southeast Asian country’s important position in Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, as well as measures to promote bilateral relations.

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