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| Toronto conference spotlights Vietnam growth after 48 years of reunification. Photo: VNA |
On April 24, approximately 45 Canadian academics and experts came together virtually in Toronto to debate the progress of the Vietnamese nation and its people 48 years after the country was unified.
Philip Fernandez of the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Society (CVFS) proclaimed that the momentous victory of April 30, 1975 marked the inception of Vietnam’s achievements in different areas, particularly in economics, diplomacy, and human development towards the UN’s objectives.
The Vietnamese Consul General in Vancouver, Nguyen Quang Trung, reflected on the hardships endured by the country after national reunification and emphasized the considerable economic and diplomatic successes it has attained, which have been widely acknowledged by the international community.
The remarkable endeavors of the Vietnamese people under the guidance of the Communist Party of Vietnam have been demonstrated by the results, he noted.
The diplomat remarked that Vietnam has achieved an impressive growth rate of 6-8% per annum since the start of the new millennium. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the nation has still reported a remarkable expansion of more than 8%, which is the highest figure in the last decade.
Vietnam has consistently upheld friendly relations with all countries around the world, having twice served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Additionally, the nation has been an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), making significant contributions towards global peace, stability, and prosperity, as stated by Trung.
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| Photo: VNA |
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency‘s correspondents in Ottawa, Dinh Kim Nguyet – an overseas Vietnamese (OV) living in Canada – said that the new policies of Vietnam, including those on visa exemption and residence cards, have greatly benefitted the OV community, allowing them to easily return to and operate in their homeland.
The event was part of a series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Canada relations (1973-2023).Vietnam-Canada ties.
Vietnam and Canada have long been engaged in a productive partnership, with two-way trade reaching over CAD 10 billion (over USD 7.3 billion) in 2022. In fact, Vietnam is now Canada’s leading trading partner amongst ASEAN countries. Last year, the two nations celebrated the fifth anniversary of their comprehensive partnership.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Vietnam’s exports to Canada surged by an impressive 20.8% annually to reach USD 5.3 billion, a rise of 75% compared to before the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) came into effect. In 2020, the figure was even higher, surpassing USD 6.3 billion, with an increase of 19.8% year-on-year.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, apparel was the biggest currency earner from Canada last year, with a total turnover of USD 1.3 billion, representing an impressive 40.3% year-on-year growth and accounting for 20.7% of Vietnam’s total exports to the country.
Currently, the two nations sustain public and commercial relations through entities such as the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnam-Canada Business Association. These associations and organizations promote and facilitate people-to-people and economic exchanges between the two countries.
In January, the Canadian Vietnamese Friendship Society (CVFS) hosted a virtual seminar to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic and cooperative ties between Canada and Vietnam (1973-2023). The event drew the participation of Canadian scholars, international friends, and Vietnamese expatriates.
Steve Rutchinski, a member of the CVFS, recently revealed the society’s plan to host a series of virtual forums to bolster the relationship between Vietnam and Canada in 2021. These forums will focus on Vietnam’s successful campaign to eradicate poverty, various social programs, and its efforts to secure justice for 40,000 victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
Participants seized the opportunity to discuss the significance of the Southeast Asian nation in Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, as well as methods for advancing bilateral ties.
