Governor General of Canada hosts welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President

Governor General Louise Arbour hosted a welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President To Lam on his state visit to Canada.

The welcoming ceremony, held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on 24/9, followed the highest protocol for a head of state. A cavalry escort accompanied the General Secretary and President's vehicle to Rideau Hall. Ms. Arbour greeted General Secretary and President To Lam at the drop-off point and invited him to the dais.

In a solemn atmosphere, the military band played the Vietnamese national anthem. General Secretary and President To Lam then inspected the guard of honor, according to VNA.

General Secretary and President To Lam salutes the flag on 24/9. Photo: VNA

Canadian Governor General Louise Arbour emphasized that Canada and Vietnam, though separated by an ocean, are united by an enduring friendship, cultivated over generations. The two countries share a commitment to a stable, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. This friendship is also evident through the Vietnamese community in Canada.

General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his hope that the visit will usher in a new chapter in bilateral relations, reflecting new heights of political trust, deepening convergence of interests and vision, and the two countries' determination to build a long-lasting, stable, substantive relationship. He envisions this becoming a model of cooperation between two nations across the Pacific.

General Secretary and President To Lam inspects the guard of honor during the welcoming ceremony. Photo: VNA

Vietnam and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1973, upgrading their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership in 11/2017.

In 2025, two-way trade between Vietnam and Canada reached 8,6 billion USD. In the first six months of 2026, two-way trade reached 4,92 billion USD, marking a 27,3% increase compared to the same period last year.

Vietnam is currently Canada's leading trade partner in ASEAN and its sixth-largest trade partner among the 40 Indo-Pacific countries. Conversely, Canada is Vietnam's third-largest export partner in the Americas and its seventh-largest export market.

The number of Vietnamese students in Canada has increased from 14.000 in 2017 to over 20.000 today, representing the highest growth among ASEAN countries. Approximately 300.000 people of Vietnamese origin reside in Canada, making them the fifth-largest non-European community, primarily concentrated in four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta.