Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh and Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Chatsis at the event

(VOVworld) – A get-together was held in Hanoi on Tuesday to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Canada. Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh appreciated Canada’s contribution to the end of the Vietnam War decades ago by twice joining an international committee on controlling and overseeing the 1954 Geneva Agreement and 1973 Paris Accord on peace restoration in Vietnam. He said this is a premise for bilateral ties development in all areas to serve the interests of the two people and maintain peace and stability in the region. Ninh said: “Vietnam always attaches importance to its relationship with Canada and welcomes Canada taking more interest in and making positive contributions to the Asia-Pacific region, including Southeast Asia and Vietnam. We consider this an opportunity to step up bilateral ties.”

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Chatsis said Vietnam and Canada have a close partnership in all areas, including trade and investment, people-to-people diplomacy, and education. Chatsis said: “This is a wonderful opportunity not only for the students to live abroad and learn in the Canadian system, but I think for us to exchange knowledge and to exchange experiences between our two countries. It’s very fortunate that Canada is home over 250,000 Canadian’s of Vietnamese origin. They are a very strong and well-established community in Canada and they have done much to contribute to Canada’s dynamism.”

Canada now ranks 14^th among countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnam and Canada and other countries are discussing a Trans-Pacific Partnership, potentially the biggest free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region.