On the afternoon of January 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Randeep Sarai, Minister of International Development of Canada, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that Viet Nam’s GDP growth in 2025 exceeded 8%, providing a foundation for achieving double-digit growth in the coming years through a green, rapid and sustainable development pathway driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. In this process, Viet Nam wishes to further strengthen and deepen the Comprehensive Partnership with Canada in a more substantive and effective manner, delivering tangible benefits to both sides.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister proposed that the two countries enhance political and diplomatic relations, increase exchanges of delegations at all levels, study the possibility of upgrading bilateral ties, and establish a solid legal framework, including visa facilitation, to promote people-to-people and business exchanges.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also called on the Canadian Minister to continue promoting cooperation with Viet Nam across various fields, particularly economic, trade and investment cooperation. He stressed the need to fully leverage the benefits of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), further open markets and strengthen supply chain connectivity between the two countries, including for Viet Nam’s strong products such as electronics and agricultural goods. He also encouraged greater business-to-business linkages, support for Viet Nam’s participation in global value chains, and joint investment in concrete projects in areas of mutual interest and strength.

The Prime Minister further suggested expanding cooperation in training high-quality human resources and technology transfer, with Canada increasing scholarships for Viet Nam in key fields where Canada has strengths and Viet Nam has demand, such as high technology, digital transformation, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, clean energy, AI, semiconductors, environmental protection and climate change response, as well as green and high-tech agriculture. These are critical areas for Viet Nam to create breakthroughs in its new development phase.

For his part, Minister Randeep Sarai congratulated Viet Nam on the 80th anniversary of the first general election to elect the National Assembly, and conveyed that the Canadian Prime Minister is pleased with the steady progress of bilateral relations, particularly the sharp increase in two-way trade since both countries joined the CPTPP.

The Minister agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s proposals to promote bilateral relations and affirmed that the visit is part of Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy, which continues to regard ASEAN and Viet Nam as top priorities.

He confirmed that Canada will step up cooperation with Viet Nam in climate change response and support Viet Nam in fulfilling its commitments under COP26. He also expressed Canada’s desire to diversify and expand trade relations with Viet Nam, aiming to double bilateral trade turnover within the next 5–10 years, and to deepen cooperation under the CPTPP framework in 2026, when Viet Nam will serve as the rotating Chair of the CPTPP Commission.

The Minister praised the success and positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in Canada and reaffirmed continued support for Vietnamese expatriates and students.

Minister Sarai also announced that Canada will continue providing official development assistance (ODA) to Viet Nam, unveiling a USD 30 million ODA package during the visit and launching the book “Sustainable Legacy - 30 Years of Development Cooperation between Canada and Viet Nam.”

As of September 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 6.35 billion, with Viet Nam ranking among Canada’s leading trading partners within ASEAN and the CPTPP.