Source: VOVNEWS

Canadian leaders have expressed their admiration for Vietnam’s efforts in boosting socio-economic development, stabilizing social welfare and reducing poverty.

Speaking at meetings with National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who visited Canada from June 28-29, Canada's Governor General David Johnston and Speaker of the Senate Noël A. Kinsella said they were pleased with the positive developments in bilateral relations recorded during Governor General Johnston’s 2011 visit to Vietnam.

Leaders of the Canadian Parliament spoke highly of Vietnam’s effective use of official development assistance (ODA) and reaffirmed that Canada considers Vietnam a priority country in its ODA policy.

Canada will consider extending the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for Vietnam and recognising its market-based economy, they said.

Both host and guest said they hope Canada and Vietnam will continue deepening their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation in the new context, especially boosting parliamentary cooperation to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2013.

They said they are delighted with the establishment of the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Society in June 2011 and agreed to strengthen mutual understanding between the two legislative bodies, as well as their general populations.

Both sides agreed to foster cooperation, with a focus on education and human resources training. They also discussed boosting economic, trade, and investment ties. They were committed to cooperating with each other in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

NA Vice Chairwoman Ngan conveyed Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s invitation to visit Vietnam to Mr Kinsella.

Speaker Kinsella invited a high-ranking delegation of Vietnamese NA to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Quebec this October./.