Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 10 hosted a reception for outgoing Canadian Ambassador Deborah Paul. Photo: VGP

During his reception for the ongoing ambassador, the PM noted that in 2021, trade between Vietnam and Canada topped US$6 billion, up 19% year on year, VietnamPlus reported.

He thanked the Government and people of Canada for providing Vietnam with Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility, helping Vietnam safely and flexibly adapt to and effectively control the pandemic, thus confidently opening its doors and boosting socio-economic recovery and development.

PM Chinh proposed that both sides continue to promote their partnership, especially in economy, trade and investment, response to the pandemic and climate change, green and sustainable growth promotion and human resources training.

He asked Canada to continue facilitating the import of Vietnamese products, especially farm produce, seasonal fruits, cashew nuts and coffee. He also expressed hope that Canada will continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country, and create conditions for Vietnamese students to return to Canada.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and outgoing Canadian Ambassador Deborah Paul. Photo: VGP

For her part, Ambassador Paul thanked the Vietnamese Government for taking effective measures to support foreigners in Vietnam amid the pandemic, including giving them COVID-19 vaccine shots. She said that Vietnam's success in rolling out vaccination to reach a high coverage is a good example for other countries to learn from.

She spoke highly of Vietnam’s meaningful and important commitments at the COP26, affirming that the Canadian Government will continue to assist Vietnam in many areas such as pandemic and climate change response, farm produces exporting, and poverty reduction. Canada will also continue to support the Vietnamese community and students in Canada.

The diplomat thanked Vietnam for supporting Canada during the negotiations for the Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement and the promotion of relations between Canada and the association.

Both sides agreed to continue to work closely together to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On February 16, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) presented the "For peace and friendship among nations" insignia to the ambassador, Nhan dan (People) newspaper said.

The insignia was awarded to honor the diplomat’s contributions to promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the people of Vietnam and Canada.

VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga presents the insignia to the Canadian Ambassador. Photo: baoquocte.vn

VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga said Ambassador Deborah Paul played a major role in arranging high-level meetings, phone talks and exchanges of letters between the two countries’ leaders.

She supported Vietnam’s role at regional and international forums, as well as Vietnam’s stance in resolving disputes in the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) through peaceful means.

The Canadian diplomat also made substantial contributions to promoting Vietnam-Canada ties in all fields from politics to economics and trade, security, healthcare, education, humanitarian assistance, cultural exchange and people-to-people exchange.

For her part, Ambassador Deborah Paul expressed her delight at receiving the honor and shared that she had a wonderful time living and working in Vietnam.

She affirmed that she will continue working to cultivate the friendship between the two countries./.

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