She made the statement at her meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on June 8 (Canada time).
At the meeting, PM Phuc expressed his appreciation for the Canadian invitation and the hospitality shown towards his delegation. He stated that Vietnam welcomes the summit’s theme on climate change and oceans and will make efforts in contribution to the success of the event. Highlighting the traditional ties between Vietnam and Canada, he affirmed that Vietnam treasures and wants to enhance its comprehensive partnership with Canada for mutual benefit, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in their regions and throughout the world.
Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation, Julie Payette praised the meaning of the Vietnamese PM’s visit to her country, particularly in the context of the two countries celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Reiterating Vietnam’s consistent policy of active engagement in the Francophone community, PM Phuc asked Canada to help foster the Francophone movement in Vietnam via its granting of scholarships for Vietnamese students and assisting French teaching in the country. He suggested Canada back Vietnam’s participation in projects on climate change response, economics, and education, within the framework of the International Francophone Organisation. PM Phuc underlined that along with accelerating their economic-trade partnership, culture-tourism collaboration and people-to-people exchanges also played an important role in fostering the bilateral ties. He proposed that Canada creates optimal conditions for the Vietnamese community in Canada.
The Canadian Governor General spoke highly of Vietnam' socio-economic achievements, as well as the country's active engagement in the Francophone community. She affirmed that Canada will continue creating favourable conditions for the expansion of cooperation and academic exchanges through the formation of partnership relations and student exchange programmes among educational establishments of the two countries. She also pledged to support Vietnam’s efforts in responding to climate change. She spoke highly of the role and contributions of the Vietnamese community in Canada, especially Vietnamese students.
The two sides agreed that the comprehensive partnership between the two countries is a framework for them tofurther foster cooperation, concurring that, in the future, Vietnam and Canada should continue rolling out specific measures to deepen their bilateral ties in a more practical and effective manner. The two countries should also coordinate closely at international and regional forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), and Francophone, they said.
The two leaders also shared their viewpoints on various regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea matters. They supported ensuring maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom, and the settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982), as well as diplomatic and legal processes without using or threatening to use force. They also backed the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early finalisation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
On the occasion, PM Phuc invited Governor General Payette to visit Vietnam, and received her acceptance.
