HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with Premier of Quebec Philippe Couillard on June 8 (Canada time), as part of his attendance at the Group of Seven (G7) Outreach Summit and visit to Canada from June 8 – 10 at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

At the meeting, Phúc thanked for the warm welcome he received in Quebec and expressed his impression of the local diverse and strong growth. 
Việt Nam values cooperation with Canadian localities, including Quebec, placing it as  a priority in the two countries’ comprehensive partnership, stated the Vietnamese PM. 
Couillard welcomed the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation’s attendance at the Group of Seven (G7) Outreach Summit and visit to Canada. 
He said the establishment of the Việt Nam – Canada comprehensive partnership in November 2017 is an important milestone in bilateral relations, serving as a drive to intensify friendship and cooperation between their localities. 
Lauding collaboration between Việt Nam and Quebec in recent year, especially in trade and education – training, Phúc suggested Quebec continue granting scholarships for Vietnamese students, supporting Việt Nam’s participation in projects on climate change response, economics, and education within the framework of the International Francophone Organisation. 
PM Phúc asked Quebec’s authorities to facilitate the involvement of Vietnamese expatriates here in the local development and bilateral ties between Việt Nam and Canada.  
The Premier of Quebec vowed to continue promoting cooperation expansion and academic exchange via the establishment of partnerships and student exchange programmes. 
He pledged to create best conditions possible for Vietnamese expatriates to make contributions to bilateral relations. 
Philippe Couillard requested Việt Nam consider Quebec’s proposal to set up a representative office in the country. 
PM Phúc took the occasion to invite the Quebec Premier to visit Việt Nam, which was accepted. 
After their meeting, the leaders  witnessed the signing of a joint statement on tertiary education between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Quebec’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Investment opportunities to Canadian firms

PM Phúc also introduced to Canadian businesses the dynamic Vietnamese economy with improved investment and business environment and abundant opportunities for foreign investors while addressing the Việt Nam-Canada business forum in Quebec on the same day.
Vietnam has recorded high economic growth, with import-export revenue reaching US$425 billion, foreign investment hitting US$37 billion in 2017, he noted. 
The Vietnamese leader said that foreign investors in Việt Nam have satisfied with the investment efficiency in the country, especially the opening of the economy with the engagement in various free trade agreements. 
In March this year, Việt Nam and Canada signed and are undertaking procedures for the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Under the deal, Việt Nam commits to removing nearly 100 percent of taxes, which means many Canadian goods will enjoy tax reduction and exemption in Việt Nam. 
The PM added that Việt Nam is restructuring State-owned enterprises, including those in important areas such as aviation, power, oil and gas, telecommunications, and transport infrastructure. This is a good opportunity for foreign investors, including those from Canada and Quebec city to buy shares and become strategic shareholders. 
He cited a multinational solar power plant with a capacity of 168 MW and an investment of $150 million that has been launched recently in Ninh Thuận province as an example of potential for cooperation between Việt Nam and Canada. 
He affirmed that Việt Nam considers Canada as an important partner in the American continent, holding that the two economies can suplement each other without competition. Particularly, Việt Nam has a strong agriculture sector and many industrial products, he said. 
He said that the current trade revenue between the two countries at $6 billion and Canada’s investment of $3.5 billion have yet to show the capacity of Canadian investors in Việt Nam. He stressed that the two sides should work harder together to improve the figures in the coming time. 
At the forum, PM Phúc also directly answered questions of Canadian investors. 
He underscored that Việt Nam always highly values foreign investment, and has protected the interest of foreign investors. 
Việt Nam is calling for more quality investment, especially in high added value products in global chains and environmentally -friendly ones, focusing on areas of infrastructure, renewable energy and high-tech agriculture. 
The PM said that Việt Nam has a golden population with 60 percent of labor force being young labourers. Each year, the country exports a large number of labourers trained in foreign languages. As a member of the Francophone, along with English, Việt Nam has strengthened French language teaching with an aim to create high quality human resources serving socio-economic development in the future, he stated. 
At the event, Quebec Mayor Regis Labeaume highlighted strenths of the city in electronics, energy, environment, materials, financial services, science and startup. 
Meanwhile, Vice Governor of Canada’s central bank Vincent Joli-Coeur spoke highly of reform of Việt Nam over the past 30 years, while giving optimistic comments on the economic outlook and investment opportunities in Việt Nam. 
He said that among countries that the bank has presented in, Việt Nam ranks first in terms of the opening for foreign investors, adding that Việt Nam has met criteria in both infrastructure and business ethics.—VNS