Vietnamese PM meets with Canadian counterpart in Vientiane

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had talks in Vientiane on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

VIENTIANE — Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau affirmed their determination to further deepen the Việt Nam-Canada comprehensive partnership while meeting on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Laos, on October 10.

PM Chính affirmed that Việt Nam highly values its comprehensive partnership with Canada and welcomes Canada’s increasing connection with the region, both bilaterally and through ASEAN mechanisms.

He suggested both countries work to fully leverage economic, trade and investment cooperation opportunities, and fortify defence collaboration, including Canada’s support for Việt Nam's participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Additionally, the Vietnamese leader called for stronger cooperation in labour training, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, gender equality, poverty reduction, protection of women's and children's rights, climate change response and food security.

Agreeing with PM Chính's proposals, PM Trudeau proposed increasing all-level meetings and effectively tapping the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Both leaders agreed to effectively implement existing defence cooperation agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation for the 2024-26 period, collaboration in key areas such as labour, social issues, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also vowed to work closely together at global and regional multilateral forums, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Francophone community. — VNS