Message from the Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Vietnam.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Vietnam (August 21, 1973 - August 21, 2023), the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam has produced a video commemorating this important historical milestone.

In his role as 'narrator', Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil reviewed the outstanding achievements in the 50-year journey of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada.

Half a century ago, just months after the Paris Agreement was signed, Canada and Vietnam officially established diplomatic relations, followed by the opening of an embassy in Hanoi in 1994 and, shortly thereafter, a consulate-general in Ho Chi Minh City in 1995.

In 2017, Vietnam hosted the APEC (Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation) meetings. With the participation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the leaders of Canada and Vietnam announced a Comprehensive Partnership, based on five priorities for deeper relations: political and diplomatic dialogue; trade and investment; defense and security; development, cultural and academic exchange; and science, technology, and innovation.

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In 2022, bilateral dialogue continued to strengthen, as evidenced by the recent meeting at the ASEAN Summit between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The two countries are witnessing continued growth in trade, defense, development assistance, and people-to-people exchanges.

In terms of trade, bilateral trade has reached new heights every year. In 2022, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Vietnam reached C$13.8 billion, up from C$10.5 billion in 2021. This remarkable growth has placed Canada among the top 10 largest buyers of Vietnamese exports globally. Vietnam is currently Canada's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

People-to-people exchanges continue to flourish thanks to the vibrant Vietnamese-Canadian community in Canada, the increasing number of young Vietnamese people studying in Canada, and the growing number of Canadian tourists seeking to explore Vietnam's natural beauty, diverse culture, and vibrant cities.

“Canada has been a trusted development partner of Vietnam for over 30 years. Canada is proud that this enduring and long-standing partnership has supported the transformation process, helping millions of people escape poverty in Vietnam,” Ambassador Shawn Steil shared.

“On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we would like to reiterate our commitment to further strengthening our relationship with Vietnam to support a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to forging deeper ties by further cultivating this important partnership in the years to come,” Ambassador Shawn Steil emphasized.

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