Mr. Sarai said he will help Lao Cai connect with Canadian localities and partners, promote their cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the localities.

Canada is currently funding 6 programs in Lao Cai for sustainable livelihood development, supporting small-and-medium sized enterprises, promoting gender equality and climate change adaptation.

Notably, the Government of Canada funded a 9 month-long project through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for gender-responsive resilient recovery of typhoon-affected livelihoods in northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam.

Through agricultural vouchers, the 1 million USD project aims to improve the quality of life for local people, especially women and ethnic minority groups affected by Typhoon Yagi in many communes and wards in Lao Cai province.