Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks over the phone with his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau on June 14. (Photo: VNA)

Son congratulated Canada on its successes in containing COVID-19, and thanked the country for its support to Vietnam in dealing with the consequences of natural disasters in the central region and fighting the pandemic, especially in access to COVID-19 vaccines.

For his part, Garneau said Canada attaches importance to the bilateral ties, and wants to deepen the Canada-Vietnam comprehensive partnership.

He also applauded Vietnam’s efforts in controlling COVID-19, as well as the close coordination between the two countries in the fight against the pandemic over the past time.

The minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to help Vietnam and other countries in the region to secure COVID-19 vaccines via the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, the COVAX Facility, and the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund.

The two ministers highly evaluated the fruitful development of Vietnam-Canada relations in many fields, especially since the two countries elevated the bilateral relations to the comprehensive partnership in 2017.

Despite adverse impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade still reached US$5 billion in 2020, up 31% before the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took effect.

Towards the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (1973-2023), the two ministers agreed to take concrete measures to promote relations as directed by the two Prime Ministers during their phone talks on May 19, 2021, including the exchange of delegations at all levels and the regular maintenance of cooperation mechanisms between the two foreign ministries.

The two sides agreed to expand collaboration in many fields, especially in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Vietnam's access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Vietnam and Canada will strive to raise two-way trade to US$8 billion in the next two years and encourage their businesses to take advantage of opportunities brought by the CPTPP, while strengthening cooperation in education, finance, digital economy, innovation, sustainable development, clean energy, response to climate change and cooperation between localities.

The two ministers also discussed the international and regional situation, including the East Sea issue, affirming the significance of observing international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also agreed to continue working together closely at regional and international multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Organisation of the Francophonie.