Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the statement at a reception for Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sahan in Hanoi on Monday. Mr. Minh asked Canada to further support Vietnam in training and urged both sides to expand collaboration in addressing post-war consequences, developing the defense industry, and improving the capabilities of maritime security forces.

Deputy PM Minh praised Canada’s foreign policy, which attaches importance to facilitating relations with Vietnam and ASEAN. Both sides agreed on further strengthening bilateral cooperation for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, while pledging closer coordination at the United Nations and APEC, and in cooperation with ASEAN, and within the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Mr. Sahan said Canada considers Vietnam an important partner and wishes to foster long-term cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in defense cooperation.

The two sides highlighted the significance of maintaining regional peace and stability, affirming their support of the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).