President To Lam Begins State Visit to Canada, Aiming to Deepen Comprehensive Partnership

General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam arrived in Ottawa on September 23 (local time), commencing his state visit to Canada. This visit aims to further strengthen the bilateral relationship, particularly the "Comprehensive Partnership" framework established in November 2017, built over more than half a century since diplomatic ties were established in 1973. The Comprehensive Partnership sets out fundamental principles to guide cooperation across a wide range of areas, including political and diplomatic affairs, trade and investment, development cooperation, defense and security, culture and education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang noted that the two countries have built a solid foundation after more than half a century of diplomatic relations and nearly a decade of Comprehensive Partnership. During this visit, particular focus is being placed on exploring new drivers of bilateral cooperation in fields such as science and technology, innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, clean energy, and human resources. These are crucial elements for Vietnam as it pursues technological innovation and sustainable development amidst rapid economic growth. In terms of trade, Vietnam is currently Canada's leading trading partner in ASEAN and its sixth-largest trading partner among the 40 countries in the Indo-Pacific. Canada is Vietnam's third-largest export market in the Americas and its seventh-largest export market globally. Bilateral trade has maintained strong growth momentum, projected to reach US$8.6 billion in 2025. A significant driver of this growth is the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to which both countries are parties, facilitating the rapid expansion of bilateral trade ties. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the President's diplomatic activities play a crucial role in maximizing national interests and enhancing Vietnam's standing in the international community. Strengthening relations with Canada, alongside relations with the United States and European countries, is seen as part of Vietnam's multifaceted diplomatic strategy to sustain economic growth and ensure security. Particularly, maintaining and developing friendly relations with Western countries like Canada holds strategic significance for Vietnam amidst its complex relationship with China. Source: Bao Chinh Phu