In 2023, Vietnam and Canada will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Half a century has passed, and the friendship and deep ties between the two peoples continue to be strengthened today with the presence of approximately 250,000 Vietnamese Canadians in this North American country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a New Year message to the Vietnamese community in Canada on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2022. (Photo: VNA)
According to Mr. Philip Fernandez, a member of the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Association, Canadians love the Vietnamese people and respect President Ho Chi Minh not only for the contributions of Vietnam and the legendary leader to the history of the struggle against colonialism and imperialism, but also for the strong marks of Vietnam today in the process of fighting for human dignity, peace and progress of humanity.
Since 2015, Vietnam has maintained its position as Canada's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, two-way trade in goods between Canada and Vietnam reached CAD 10.5 billion (USD 7.85 billion), up from CAD 8.9 billion in 2020. The Canadian government has identified priority areas for cooperation with Vietnam including agriculture, food processing, education, information and communications technology, clean technology, aerospace and life sciences. Vietnam has a great advantage as the only country in ASEAN with comprehensive bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-Canada Comprehensive Partnership Agreement and the Vietnam-Canada Joint Economic Committee (JEC).
Expanding trade across the region is a key element of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Luis Silva, a government relations expert, affirmed that as Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, Vietnam will be very important to Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a growing market for trade and investment in Southeast Asia. Luis Silva predicted that Vietnam will be an attractive strategic partner for Canada, in the context of economic cooperation that will bring benefits to both countries.
As a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam is the first country in ASEAN that Canadian businesses should consider when looking for financial investment opportunities, clean energy, agricultural and food trade... That is the opinion of Mr. Jean Charest, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and former Premier of Quebec. And this is also a view that is receiving a lot of support in the Canadian business community.
Trade, investment and education are areas of cooperation that have developed dynamically between Vietnam and Canada in recent years. Vietnam is currently Canada's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
According to the latest statistics from the Consulate General of Canada in Vietnam, the number of Vietnamese students choosing Canada as their study abroad destination is increasing. There are currently more than 14,000 Vietnamese students living, working and studying in this country, leading the Southeast Asia region and ranking 5th in the world. In particular, the community of about 250,000 Vietnamese people in Canada is becoming an important bridge to promote the increasingly good friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Bubble artist Fan Yang, a Canadian of Vietnamese origin, has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records 20 times. - Photo: thoidai
President of the Canadian Immigration History Research Society Michael Molloy, former Canadian Ambassador to Jordan, recently stated in the media that the Vietnamese community is a very important part of Canada, because they are very creative. They are now present in the military, in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in all government departments and agencies, in business, in the education system...
President of the Canadian Immigration History Research Society Michael Molloy highlighted the will to overcome difficulties and rise up of the Vietnamese people in Canada. He said that the Vietnamese are now present in almost every area of life in Canada. Mr. Michael Molloy said: The Vietnamese community is a very important component because they are very creative. They are now present in the army, in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in all government departments and agencies, in business, in the education system... I heard statistics recently, saying that about 20% of health care workers in the province of Quebec have Vietnamese names.
Assessing the contributions of Vietnamese people to Canada after 4 decades of settlement, former Canadian Ambassador to Jordan Michael Molloy said: In fact, in the first 20 years, the Vietnamese community was the poorest community in Canada. They struggled, less than 5% could speak English or French. But 20 years later, the Vietnamese community caught up with the main community and by the 30th year, they surpassed the main community in terms of professional occupations and education, it can be affirmed that the Vietnamese have become the community with the highest rate of professional occupations in Canada.
Vietnamese people in Odessa. Illustration photo
Regarding Canada's immigration and settlement program, Mr. Molloy said: If we give immigrants a chance, provide appropriate services and connect them directly with individuals in the larger community, they will overcome difficulties. The Vietnamese community in particular has proven that if you give them time, provide them with job opportunities and educational opportunities, they will eventually overcome difficulties and their children will become excellent./.
Cong Dao
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