Canadian Minister of International Development Randeep Sarai visited Vietnam from 6-8/1 to explore new cooperation opportunities and identify shared priorities for development cooperation and trade between the two nations.

During a press conference in Hanoi on 8/1, Sarai announced a funding package worth 81,28 million Canadian dollars (58,6 million USD) for development projects in Vietnam across various areas: climate change adaptation, agriculture, justice, and women's empowerment.

"These projects are part of a broader effort to strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Canada", Sarai stated.

Canadian Minister of International Development Randeep Sarai during a press conference in Hanoi on 8/1. *Photo: Ngoc Anh*

The Canadian Minister of International Development noted that Canada has provided approximately 1,9 billion Canadian dollars (about 1,3 billion USD) over the past 30 years to Vietnam and is impressed with Vietnam's recent development and success.

Moving forward, Canada's support for Vietnam will focus on areas such as high technology, financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and enhancing supply chain resilience in the current climate change context.

"We understand that if Vietnam develops well, Canada also develops well", Sarai emphasized.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Sarai on 6/1, noting that Canadian official development assistance (ODA) projects implemented in Vietnam have yielded practical results and significantly contributed to the implementation of Vietnam's socio-economic development plan for the giai doan 2021-2025 and the national development strategy for 2021-2030.

The prime minister proposed an early upgrade of bilateral relations to a new level, continuing to promote the development and expansion of economic and trade cooperation, especially connecting businesses from both countries, making economic, trade, and investment cooperation a main pillar in bilateral relations.

Vietnam also hopes both sides will foster new growth drivers, such as: cooperation in science and technology and innovation, climate change response, green energy transition, renewable energy, infrastructure development, logistics, cultural exchange, and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnam and Canada established diplomatic relations on 21/8/1973 and elevated their relationship to a comprehensive partnership in 11/2017. Bilateral trade turnover reached 6,35 billion USD by 9/2025. Vietnam is one of Canada's leading trade partners within ASEAN and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).