Expanding Vietnam-Canada Co-Operative Ties

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai’s visit to Canada is made at the time when friendship and co-operative relations between the two Governments and people are making positive progress, creating a foundation and new motive force for bilateral multi-faceted relations and boosting the two countries’ co-operation at multilateral forums in the region and the world. Following the official visit to the US, this historic Canada visit by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai is a strong implementation of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the trend of openness and multilateralisation of international relations as well as the country’s wish to be a reliable friend and partner for other countries. This is to contribute to realising successfully Vietnam’s national industrialisation and modernisation. Canada established official diplomatic ties with Vietnam on August 21, 1973. Canada has a long history with modern Vietnam, having been a member of the International Commission for Supervision and Control on the Geneva Agreement in 1954 and the Paris Agreements in 1973, and having celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2003. The two countries have exchanged visits by delegations at different levels. Canada and Vietnam are partners in important multilateral forums such as La Francophonie, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), APEC, and the United Nations. Vietnam will be Canada’s next ASEAN co-ordinating country for the period 2006-2008. Vietnam and Canada have signed 16 treaties on economics, trade development, the avoidance of double taxation, aviation, administrative reform, education and training. The two sides are negotiating a co-operation agreement on child adoption and accelerating bilateral negotiations on Vietnam's joining of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Two-way trade increased from US $121 million in 1998 to US $429.7 million in 2004. Vietnam exports mainly garments, leather products, footwear, bicycles, farm produce, seafood and handicrafts to Canada, while importing medicines, post and telecommunications equipment, plastic, pulp, chemical fertiliser and machinery. Canada abolished garment and textile quotas for Vietnam on January 1, 2005. The country ranks 23rd among 69 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 46 projects at a combined registered capital of US $232 million. http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/270605/edit.htm

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