Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (C) holds a phone call with his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau on June 14, 2021. (Photo:VNA)

During a phone call on Monday, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau agreed to encourage their businesses to take advantage of opportunities brought by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, while strengthening cooperation in education, finance, digital economy, innovation, sustainable development, clean energy, response to climate change and cooperation between localities.

Mr. Son said Vietnam highly values Canada’s efforts to enhance its relations with ASEAN and Vietnam.

Mr. Garneau reiterated Canada’s commitment to help Vietnam and other countries in the region secure COVID-19 vaccines via the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, the COVAX Facility, and the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund. 

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Vietnam's access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The two ministers stressed the importance of observing international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They agreed to continue working closely at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the International Organization of La Francophonie.