Vietnam provides all means for defense ties with Canada

(Bqp.vn) - In Hanoi on June 5, President Tran Dai Quang received Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan who is paying an official visit to Vietnam from June 4 to 6 at the invitation of Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich.

President Tran Dai Quang receiving Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan. (photo: Minh Khanh)

President Tran Dai Quang warmly welcomed the Canadian Defense Minister, saying his visit to Vietnam takes place at a time when the two countries are implementing agreements to foster the Comprehensive Partnership, which was set up in 2017, and celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (August 21, 1973).

Vietnam is keen on developing the Comprehensive Partnership with Canada, he reiterated, adding that the two nations have maintained a good relations and together made efforts to promote common goals and economic growth and increase trade exchange. The president also cited the fact that Vietnam is now Canada’s biggest trade partner in ASEAN while Canada is among Vietnam’s large investors.

The Canadian Defense Minister, for his part, informed his host on outcomes of the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich. The ministers also witnessed, allowing Vietnamese officers to take part in diverse training courses in Canada.

The Canadian Defense Minister spoke highly of the Vietnamese community in Canada, saying some 14,000 Vietnamese students who are studying in Canada would play a significant part in consolidating and developing the two countries’ relations.

Furthermore, he emphasized that as an Asian-Pacific nation who looks to promote cooperation to maintain the regional stability, Canada supports the rule of law and observance of international law in the settlement of territorial disputes, particularly in the East Sea.

President Tran Dai Quang highly valued the outcomes of the talks between the two ministers during which the two sides agreed to step up partnership in areas of mutual interest, including defense industry, personnel training, UN peacekeeping missions, marine security, military medicine and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Military Training and Cooperation Program of Canada. Vietnam will provide all means for the enhancement of the Vietnam-Canada defense cooperation, President Tran Dai Quang said, he asked the two defense ministries to closely work together to effectively implement the agreements in a bid to make the defense ties a pillar of the two nations’ relationship.

President Tran Dai Quang also appreciated Canada’s stance in the East Sea issues and thanked the Government and people of Canada for facilitating Vietnamese citizens, including 14,000 students, to live and study there, saying they are bridges for strengthening the bilateral ties.