During talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney on 24/9, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that Vietnam considers Canada a trusted friend and partner, sharing many strategic interests and visions, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two leaders stated that Vietnam-Canada relations have met all conditions to enter a new development phase, characterized by higher political trust, deeper and more substantive cooperation, and closely intertwined interests.

The General Secretary and President affirmed that the two nations should focus on new priorities in their relationship, making science and technology, digital transformation, AI, and advanced technologies new driving forces.

General Secretary and President To Lam and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. *Photo: VNA*

The General Secretary and President proposed that both sides enhance cooperation in researching, developing, and applying new technologies, sharing experiences in digital transformation, building digital government, digital economy, and digital society, with a focus on developing high-quality human resources.

The two countries agreed to expand energy cooperation, including clean energy, LNG, renewable energy, and the potential for peaceful nuclear energy cooperation. They will also strengthen collaboration in healthcare, environment, agriculture, food security, education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed to promote enhanced cooperation in defense, security, and law enforcement, consistent with each side's needs and aspirations. This includes expanding collaboration in non-traditional security, maritime security, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, United Nations peacekeeping, and combating transnational crime, supporting the establishment of a Bilateral Dialogue on Security and Law Enforcement.

General Secretary and President To Lam holds talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. *Photo: VNA*

Vietnam and Canada share a common vision for strengthening dialogue and cooperation, upholding multilateralism, the UN Charter, and international law. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in the Bien Dong Sea, and agreed to resolve disputes peacefully based on international law.

Prime Minister Carney proposed that both sides further leverage the role of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in promoting free trade, and promptly conclude negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement. These efforts will contribute to expanding cooperation, diversifying markets, and supply chains.

The two leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between agencies of the two countries and announced a Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam-Canada relations to a Strategic Partnership, expressing confidence that the new relationship framework will open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

General Secretary and President To Lam meets with Canadian Governor General Louise Arbour. *Photo: VNA*

During his meeting with Canadian Governor General Louise Arbour on the same day, the General Secretary and President affirmed Vietnam's consistent appreciation for its relationship with Canada. He proposed that both sides effectively utilize existing cooperation and economic integration frameworks, expand markets, connect supply chains, encourage Canadian businesses and investment funds to make long-term investments in Vietnam, and broaden cooperation in transportation, infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity.

The two countries need to create new growth drivers by enhancing cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, AI, and advanced technologies. This also includes expanding collaboration in energy, green development, environmental protection, climate change response, healthcare, high-tech agriculture, food security, and sustainable development.

The General Secretary and President stressed that education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges remain crucial foundations for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Governor General Arbour affirmed Canada's readiness to collaborate with Vietnam in promoting cooperation in areas of mutual interest, leveraging each country's strengths and potential to bring practical benefits to their people.

General Secretary and President with Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagne (right) and House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia (left). *Photo: VNA*

The General Secretary and President also held a working lunch with Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagne and House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, proposing that parliamentary cooperation become a key pillar, consolidating political trust, establishing a legal foundation, and promoting the effective implementation of high-level agreements.

The General Secretary and President proposed maintaining economic cooperation as the focus and driving force of bilateral relations, more effectively utilizing the CPTPP, and facilitating Vietnamese goods' access to the Canadian market.

Vietnam welcomes and is ready to create favorable conditions for Canadian businesses to increase investment in potential areas such as energy, green economy, circular economy, green hydrogen, and e-commerce.

The two countries need to foster new developments in areas where Canada has strengths and Vietnam has needs, such as science and technology, innovation, clean energy, green economy, high-quality human resources training, defense industry, and aviation.

General Secretary and President To Lam receives the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group. *Photo: VNA*

Upon receiving the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, General Secretary and President To Lam proposed increasing delegation exchanges, promoting joint activities, sharing legislative and oversight experiences, and fostering broad consensus within the Canadian Parliament and society for strengthening relations with Vietnam.

The General Secretary and President noted that both sides need to create breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, clean energy, and high-quality human resources training, expanding educational cooperation, exchanges, and scholarships.

The parliamentarians affirmed their continued positive contributions to effectively implement the Strategic Partnership, promoting parliamentary, economic and trade, science and technology, education and training, and people-to-people cooperation.

Nguyen Tien