Linkages between Ho Chi Minh City and Canadian localities have contributed significantly to the fruitful wide-ranging cooperation between Vietnam and Canada over the past years.

The remarks were shared by Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee and Canada ’s International Trade Minister Edward Fast at their meeting in HCM City on August 27.

The host and guest were pleased with the two countries’ two-way trade of over 2 billion USD in 2011 as it showed a six-fold rise within a decade.

HCM City has to date received 500 million USD in investment from Canadian businesspeople, whose total investment in Vietnam reached more than 6 billion USD.

Regarding the cultural and educational sectors, Quan mentioned practical projects with efficient outcomes between the city’s Industry University and Cooperatives Alliance and Canadian organisations and agencies.

The country’s economic hub has set up a partnership with the Canadian city of Toronto, Canada since 2003.

Impressed by rapid economic developments he witnessed in Vietnam and HCM City, the Canadian minister said he will encourage and call for Canadian firms to invest in Vietnam, a safe destination for investment.

He hopes the city in particular and the Vietnamese government in general continues giving positive assistance to Canadian businesses currently operating in Vietnam.

Vietnam and Canada will mark the 40 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2013.

Canadian Minister Edward Fast is on a tour of four Southeast Asians of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar from August 27-September 3 to boost trade relations with the region.

He is accompanied by a business delegation during the week-long visit.