Vietnam - Central Part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed that Vietnam is a central part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy that Canada has been implementing, with an investment of nearly US$2.3 billion.
September 30, 2023 | 08:57
Vietnam - Central Part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
Vietnam and Canada had a friendly relationship and effective cooperation for many years. Photo: VNP

On September 26, the Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa held a ceremony to celebrate the 78th anniversary of National Day and 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada.

This event of special significance attracted more than 250 guests Canadian diplomatic officials, diplomats from ASEAN countries, international experts, and scholars interested in Vietnam. A large number of overseas Vietnamese women, businessmen, and students from major provinces and cities in Canada also attended the event.

In the opening ceremony, the Ambassador-Designate of Vietnam to Canada Pham Vinh Quang reviewed the country's political, diplomatic, and socioeconomic achievements.

He also affirmed that Vietnam will remain one of the favorite destinations for international investors and tourists.

Vietnam is considered one of the emerging markets with the fastest growth in Asia-Pacific.

In 2022, Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 8% growth, marking a strong recovery after the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is expected that growth this year will be nearly 6%, making Vietnam the 35th largest market in the world, 14th in Asia-Pacific, and fourth in ASEAN.

Vietnam's economy is undergoing a strong shift in economic structure, with industry and services now accounting for over 80% of the country's GDP, helping Vietnam make steady progress on the path of industrialization and modernization.

Senator Victor Oh, chairman of the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, said he was extremely impressed with Vietnam's vibrant development through the information provided by the Vietnamese Ambassador as well as what he witnessed during his recent visit to HCM City.

Vietnam will develop even more rapidly and strongly, and even be able to become a booming economy in ASEAN, he said, adding that in his role, he will actively promote economic and trade relations based on educational, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Cindy Termorshuizen affirmed that Vietnam is a central part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy that Canada implemented, with an investment of nearly US$2.3 billion.

This is one of Canada's efforts to ensure that the country will be a dynamic partner in the region, especially with Vietnam.

She assessed the strong growth in economic relations between Vietnam and Canada largely thanks to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The two countries will strengthen that relationship because it will open up opportunities in many different fields.

Vietnam - Central Part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
Overview of the Vietnam-Canada defense policy dialogue at the headquarters of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense in Ottawa, September 21, 2023. Photo: VNA

Le Quang Minh, a student at the University of Ottawa, said he was honored to be invited to this important event. This proves that both Vietnam and Canada have certain interests in young people and students. Students like them come here to study and then contribute to the two countries in the future.

Vietnam and Canada had a friendly relationship and effective cooperation for many years. In 2022, despite the negative impact of the pandemic, the trade turnover between the two countries still reached more than US$10 billion, and Vietnam became Canada's largest trading partner among ASEAN countries.

In addition to trade partnerships, Vietnam is also a close and important defense partner of Canada in Southeast Asia. The two countries' defense relations are expanding and the two sides recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on United Nations peacekeeping cooperation.

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