Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son talks by phone with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. Photo: Tuan Anh

In their phone talks on Tuesday, the Foreign Minister called on Canada to further support Vietnam, open its doors to Vietnamese goods and farm produce, particularly seasonal fruits and aquatic products, and enhance collaboration in climate change response, digital transformation, green finance, green and sustainable growth, personnel training, and regional and international issues.

He asked for Canada’s early recognition of Vietnam’s vaccine passports, more support to Vietnamese students returning to Canada for study after the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled.

For her part, Joly stated that Canada attaches importance to relations with Vietnam in its foreign policy in the region. She committed to working closely with Vietnam to build and implement practical measures towards the celebrations of the establishment of the comprehensive partnership and the diplomatic ties between the two countries. The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international matters.

For the Ukraine issue, Son reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance that international disputes and differences should be addressed via peaceful measures in line with basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially those on respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, and ensuring safety for civilians, including Vietnamese in Ukraine, to evacuate from battle zones.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they emphasized the significance of observing international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The ministers consented to continue close cooperation at regional and international multilateral forums such as the UN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the ASEAN and the Francophone.