The Deputy PM told Vietnam News Agency in Canada on Sept. 30 that his meetings with Canada’s government and parliament senior officials were held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, focusing on measures to increase ties and international and regional issues of common concern.

The two sides agreed to increase exchange of high-level delegations and conduct political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

Canada pledged to increase investment in Vietnam and the two sides would accelerate negotiations for a foreign investment protection and promotion agreement (FIPA), and work to increase annual two-way trade from 1.2 billion USD to 2 billion USD, as well as strengthen cooperation in oil and gas field.

Canada also pledged to continue to prioritise ODA for Vietnam, acknowledging Vietnam has been actively and effectively carrying out projects using Canada’s ODA capital since 1992, which now amounts up to 600 million CAD.

The Deputy PM said the two countries would step up agricultural cooperation to tap existing potentials. Canada will provide advanced technique and machines and import agricultural products from Vietnam.

The two sides agreed to boost tourism cooperation in order to increase the number of tourists to each other, and develop tourism infrastructure.

Regarding education, Canada pledged to give more assistance to Vietnam in training human resource and facilitate visa granting to Vietnamese students.

The Canadian officials highly valued the overseas Vietnamese community’s contributions to Canada’s socio-economic development, particularly in medicine, sciences and business, and promised to create favourable conditions for the community not only to integrate but also contribute to the homeland, in line with Vietnam’s request.

Deputy PM Khiem said he was optimistic about the prospect of the bilateral ties, as the two countries’ leaders and people shared a common desire to build up a long-lasting friendship and cooperation for mutual interests./.