Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Wednesday suggested Việt Nam and Canada maximise their potential, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to boost their development cooperation.

At a reception in Hà Nội for Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng, who is leading a Canadian trade mission to Việt Nam, the PM said her visit has contributed to consolidating the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

Mary Ng said the delegation comprises more than 250 people, including representatives from 200 leading Canadian businesses, noting the number demonstrates their interest in the Vietnamese market.

Both the host and guest noted with pleasure the intensive and extensive development of the comprehensive partnership across spheres.

Canada is Việt Nam's third largest trade partner in America, and Việt Nam is Canada's biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Canada is also Việt Nam's 14th largest investor with more than 247 projects worth over US$4.82 billion.

Pointing to global challenges like epidemics, conflicts, climate change and population ageing, the PM called on Canada to further cooperate with Việt Nam to deal with them for the sake of both nations and their people, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

He also expressed his belief that bilateral ties will grow further on the foundation consolidated over the past 50 years, and suggested the two countries continue their close coordination to increase all-level visit exchanges, bring into full play existing cooperation mechanisms and establish new ones in all fields.

For her part, Mary Ng informed Chính about the outcomes of the second meeting of the Việt Nam-Canada Joint Economic Committee which opened the same day, saying the two sides agreed to advance the economic, trade and investment ties to a new height, and mobilise resources to implement the Political Declaration on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

Canada highly values Việt Nam's role in ASEAN, as well as Việt Nam’s and ASEAN’s role in its Indo-Pacific strategy, the minister said, expressing her hope that Việt Nam will work together with Canada to accelerate negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and support the country as the rotating chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2024.

Her suggestions received support from PM Chính, who affirmed that Việt Nam stands ready to help Canadian goods make deeper inroads into ASEAN.

Regarding international issues, the PM called on Canada to back Việt Nam's and ASEAN’s stance and viewpoints on the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) issue, including those on ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, handling disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and supporting the effective and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Chính asked Mary Ng to convey his wishes and regards to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, and his invitation to the PM to soon visit Việt Nam to elevate the relationship to a new height. — VNS