June 27, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin held talks today with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, during the first official visit to Canada by a Vietnamese Head of Government. The Prime Ministers discussed recent developments in both countries, bilateral relations, and issues of mutual interest.

The two leaders noted the continued development of the relationship between Canada and Vietnam over the past three decades. They affirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the framework of a comprehensive, stable and long-term partnership. To this end, they expressed their support for strengthening government, commercial and civil society linkages.

Prime Minister Martin welcomed the positive momentum of Vietnam’s economic, legal and judicial reforms and its significant achievements in poverty reduction, and noted Canada’s contribution to this process through its Judicial Education and Grassroots Development project announced in November 2004. Both leaders recognized the importance of Official Development Assistance to the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Martin noted that Vietnam is one of 25 key development partners where Canadian assistance will be concentrated, in accordance with Canada’s new International Policy Statement. He committed to continuing to assist Vietnam in important areas of governance, rural development and basic education, as well as addressing the regional challenge of transnational health issues. The Prime Ministers witnessed the signature of two Memoranda of Understanding between the Canadian International Development Agency and the Government of Vietnam on banking reform and food and agriculture products quality and control.

The Prime Ministers also discussed Canada and Vietnam’s growing trade and investment relationship and agreed that an expanded and more balanced trade relationship would benefit both nations. The Prime Ministers were pleased to recognize the satisfactory conclusion of bilateral negotiations for Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization. They also welcomed an agreement to reopen Vietnam’s borders to Canadian beef and to continue discussions on access for live animals.

The Prime Ministers agreed to further enhance people-to-people linkages through such means as the recently concluded agreement to permit the resumption of adoptions between the two nations.

The Prime Ministers expressed their support for a continued frank and constructive dialogue on sensitive and important issues such as human rights, democracy, religious freedom and improving the situation of ethnic minorities.

Prime Minister Khai thanked the Canadian government and people for helping Vietnamese immigrants integrate into Canadian society while maintaining their cultural identity. He noted that this has contributed to the strength and vibrancy of the Vietnamese-Canadian community, which numbers almost 250,000. They noted with satisfaction the contribution by the Vietnamese community in Canada to the promotion of friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

The two leaders noted their countries’ constructive cooperation in international fora such as the United Nations, La Francophonie, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and APEC, which Vietnam will host in 2006. Prime Minister Martin also reiterated that Canada looks forward to working closely with Vietnam as its next ASEAN coordinating country.

The leaders also discussed the problem of global overfishing and its implications for sustainable development.

Prime Minister Martin was honoured to receive Prime Minister Khai’s invitation to visit Vietnam, and noted that he looked forward to attending APEC in Hanoi in 2006.