(VOV) - Vietnam and Canada will strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas, primarily in economics, trade, investment, science-technology, and education-training.

They will also increase the exchange of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The agreement was reached during talks in Hanoi on March 12 between Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his visiting Canadian counterpart John Baird.

Vietnam wants to foster relations with Canada in a substantial manner, said Minh.

He acknowledged Canada’s efforts in boosting cooperation with Asia and the Pacific, including ASEAN and Vietnam, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

He appreciated Canada’s decision to include Vietnam in the priority list of its 20 recipients of official development assistance (ODA), and proposed that the Canadian government further open its market for Vietnamese products and soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

Minh also proposed that Canada extend the generalised system of preferences (GSP) to Vietnam and support the Southeast Asian nation in accessing preferential loans from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA).

Minister Baird said increasing cooperation with ASEAN, including Vietnam, is one of Canada’s priorities in its foreign policy. He confirmed that Vietnam is a major strategic partner of Canada.