Vietnam, Canada Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership

Vietnam and Canada have elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, marking a new phase of development characterized by enhanced political trust, broader and more substantive cooperation, and more closely intertwined interests. The agreement was reached during talks between Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on September 24 (local time). Both leaders acknowledged the significant achievements in bilateral relations over more than 50 years of friendship and nearly a decade under the Comprehensive Partnership framework. They agreed that the conditions are ripe for a higher level of engagement. To effectively implement the new framework, both sides committed to developing a concrete agenda and action plan. Key areas of focus include increasing high-level delegation exchanges, promoting parliamentary cooperation, and utilizing bilateral mechanisms like regular consultations and dialogues between their foreign ministries. Prime Minister Carney emphasized making economic, trade, investment, financial, and economic integration cooperation a driving force. He proposed facilitating market access for goods, stepping up trade and investment promotion, strengthening supply-chain linkages, encouraging Canadian investment in Vietnam, and supporting new cooperation areas such as infrastructure and transport, including direct air routes. He also suggested leveraging the CPTPP to advance free trade and working towards the early conclusion of the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement to expand cooperation space and diversify markets and supply chains. General Secretary and President To Lam highlighted science and technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies as new drivers of cooperation. He proposed strengthening joint research, sharing experiences in digital transformation, and developing digital government, the digital economy, and digital society, with a focus on nurturing high-quality human resources. Cooperation in energy, including clean energy, LNG, and renewable energy, as well as potential collaboration in peaceful nuclear energy, was also discussed. Enhancements in healthcare, environment, agriculture, food security, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges were agreed upon, aiming to leverage complementary strengths in food production and trade. In defense and security, both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in non-traditional security, maritime security, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, UN peacekeeping, and combating transnational crime. They also agreed to support efforts to establish a bilateral Dialogue on Security and Law Enforcement. Canada affirmed its support for Vietnam's organization of the third Vietnam International Defense Expo and welcomed Vietnam's plan to establish a Defense Attaché Office in Canada. On regional and international issues, the leaders shared a vision of strengthening dialogue and cooperation, upholding multilateralism, the UN Charter, and international law. They reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, agreeing that disputes should be resolved peacefully based on international law, including UNCLOS 1982. Prime Minister Carney affirmed Canada’s support for ASEAN centrality and the strengthening of ASEAN–Canada cooperation. Both leaders agreed to enhance coordination at various international forums including the UN, APEC, and CPTPP. General Secretary and President To Lam invited Prime Minister Carney to visit Vietnam in 2026 and attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in 2027, an invitation that was gladly accepted. The leaders witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents and announced a Joint Statement on the elevation of Vietnam–Canada relations to a Strategic Partnership, expressing confidence that this new framework will usher in a new chapter of extensive, substantive, and effective cooperation contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development. Source: VnExpress International