(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has headed to Canada for the expanded Group of Seven (G7) Summit and a visit at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The invitation shows the respect of the host country and other G7 members for Vietnam’s voice and position in regional and global issues.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the expanded G7 Summit (Photo: VNA) |
The Prime Minister’s trip, which will take place from Friday to Sunday, is his second attendance at an expanded G7 Summit as an invited guest, after the first event in Japan 2 years ago. This year’s summit will focus on healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities, assistance for sustainable fisheries, and the treatment of plastic waste floating in the oceans.
Vietnam joins global efforts to address challenges
Vietnam has good relations with all G7 countries, 5 of which maintain strategic partnerships while the others have comprehensive partnerships with Vietnam.
At the summit, Prime Minister Phuc will deliver a speech, reiterating Vietnam’s efforts and important contributions to settling global challenges, including climate change, protection of coastal environments, effective use of energy, renewable energy development, and sustainable fisheries.
Vietnam’s attendance at the expanded G7 Summit will provide an opportunity for the country to show its responsibility on global issues. Seriously affected by ocean pollution and plastic waste, Vietnam will devise solutions to protect oceans and develop clean energy. The country will also call for more investors and pledge favorable conditions for G7 partners with technological and financial strengths to become strategic investors in Vietnam’s renewable energy projects.
Further relations with Canada
2018 is a significant year for Vietnam and Canada as it marks the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. In 2017, during Prime Minister Trudeau’s Vietnam visit, both countries issued a joint statement on establishing a Comprehensive Partnership and set forth measures to boost bilateral ties in politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, culture-education, and science-technology.
Vietnam has been Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN since 2015. Last year bilateral trade revenue reached 6.2 billion USD. Canada hopes that when the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) takes effect, its trade with Vietnam will thrive. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the media during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Vietnam visit last year: “Two-way trade has grown steadily, averaging 20% each year, higher than with other countries. In the spirit of a Comprehensive Partnership, the new agreement on Vietnam-Canada relations, will open a new chapter of bilateral cooperation in economics, culture, defense, and security.”
Vietnamese students rank first among Southeast Asian peers in enrolments in Canadian universities with 14,000 students last year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed a talk with students of Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh last year: “Canada and Vietnam are partners. We have the relationship that is only getting stronger with time. And we must ensure that education remains a top priority going forward. Your opinions, inputs, thoughtfulness, energy, and solutions are needed by your neighbors, community, country, and world.”
During his upcoming visit to Canada, Prime Minister Phuc will hold talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and meet with the governor of Quebec, businesses and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Canada.