It is strategically significant that Canada develop relations with Vietnam, visiting Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Morris Rosenberg said on Wednesday. He made the statement at a meeting with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on June 5, the first day of his two-day visit to Vietnam. The Canadian official said he appreciates Vietnam’s role in the region and that his country wishes to expand relations with regional countries, especially ASEAN. Canada will strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the areas mutually agreed to further develop the multi-faceted relationship between the two countries. Minister Minh told the Canadian official that Vietnam highly values its relationship with Canada and wants to develop that relationship into a comprehensive partnership.
In order to boost bilateral relationship efficiently, Minh said, the two countries should increase the exchange of high-ranking visits, give priority to cooperation in economics, trade, investment, science-technology, and education, and further support each other at international and regional forums. The two countries should also cooperate closely in organizing activities celebrating the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Canada diplomatic ties, he added. Before the meeting, Deputy FM Morris Rosenberg had talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Ha Kim Ngoc, focusing on measures to enhance bilateral relations. Since their establishment of diplomatic ties in 1973, Vietnam and Canada have expanded their cooperation in various areas, especially economics and education.