A programme to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam - Canada diplomatic ties (1973-2023) was held by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) and the Canadian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on August 20, VNA reported.

This is part of activities intended to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ people.

Attending the event were Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President of Vietnam; Phan Van Mai, member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Behzad Babakhani, Consul General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City; Mai Thi Hanh, spouse of former President of Vietnam Truong Tan Sang.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai presented flower pots to typical Vietnamese and Canadian students in the city. Photo: www.hcmcpv.org.vn

Addressing the event, Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Phan Van Mai emphasized that since Vietnam and Canada officially set up diplomatic relations half a century ago, the bilateral relations have made great strides, especially since they upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2017.

According to Mai, Vietnam is now Canada's largest trading partner in ASEAN, with the goal of raising two-way trade to USD 10 billion expected to soon be achieved.

Besides economic-trade cooperation, the two sides also witnessed growing relations in culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Mai thanked the Canadian Consulate General for awarding the Inukshuk statue to HCM City, saying that this is a practical cultural exchange activity to help people of the two countries understand more about the cultures of each other, thus expanding solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

At Saigon Botanical Garden and Zoo, Canadan Consul General Babakhani, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai and representatives of the Vietnamese government and organizations presented scholarships to 1,400 underprivileged children. Source: Canadian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

The cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy will be the basis for the two countries to move towards an even better relationship in the next half century, he noted.

The organizers took the occasion to present 50 scholarships and gifts worth VND 2 million (USD 83) each to poor students with outstanding performance in their study; and 50 gift packages worth VND 1 million (USD 41) each to 50 typical Vietnamese and Canadian students in various fields.

The Vietnam - Canada Friendship Association also coordinated with sponsors to give gifts worth VND 1.5 million (USD 62) each to 1,400 students with extremely difficult circumstances in HCM City, and Long An and An Giang provinces.

The Consulate General of Canada and the Canadian Business Association in Vietnam presented the Inukshuk statue - the symbol of the Inuit people, in Canada to mark the close and long-lasting friendship of the two countries. Source: Canadian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

The Inukshuk Statue presented by the Canadian Consulate General in HCM City is placed in the Sai Gon Zoo and Botanical Garden.

The Inukshuk statue was built by a Canadian Inuit artist. This symbol originates from the culture of the Inuit Aboriginal people of Northwest Canada. The structure of the statue is rough rocks stacked in the shape of a person, with the purpose of helping travelers navigate, warning of danger, and also showing friendship and solidarity in a lasting way.

Vietnam and Canada set up their diplomatic relations on August 21, 1973. The relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive partnership on the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November 2017.

Since then, bilateral ties have deepened in various fields. Trade cooperation is the highlight in bilateral relations with two-way trade surpassing USD 7 billion in 2022. In addition to economic partnership, the two countries are also enjoying sound cooperation in culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

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