Politburo member Minh made the remarks while hosting a reception for Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan in Hanoi on June 4, during which he voiced his belief that Sajjan’s visit would contribute significantly to enhancing Vietnam-Canada defence ties in the time ahead.
The deputy PM asked the Canadian side to further support Vietnam in training and peacekeeping, agreeing that both sides should expand collaboration in the fields of addressing post-war consequences, developing the defence industry, and improving the capabilities of maritime security forces.
Vietnam welcomes Canada’s foreign policy in consolidating connections with the world and the Asia-Pacific regions, while attaching importance to facilitating relations with Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he stated.
The two sides expressed delight at the active and comprehensive developments in Vietnam-Canada ties, especially since the two countries agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership during Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s official visit to Vietnam in November 2017, when he attended the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang city.
They reached consensus on further strengthening bilateral cooperation, both regionally and internationally in the time to come, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, while pledging closer coordination in some important multilateral forums and mechanisms, such as the United Nations and APEC, and in cooperation with ASEAN and within the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Expressing his impression of Vietnam’s vigorous development after 30 years of Doi Moi (Reform), Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan spoke highly of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of relations, as well as its increasing position in the international arena.
Canada considers Vietnam as an important partner in the region, and wishes to foster friendly relations and long-term cooperation with Vietnam, including in defence cooperation, he said. The minister pledged Canada’s continuous support for Vietnam in training and improving the capabilities of its UN peacekeeping forces.
In terms of regional and international issues, the two sides highlighted the significance of maintaining regional peace and stability, affirming their stances of supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea, without using or threatening to use force, while respecting diplomatic and legal processes, in accordance with international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
