Vietnam, Canada Sign Three Pacts During Khai's First Trip

Vietnam, Canada Sign Three Pacts During Khai's First Trip

As the first prime minister of Vietnam to visit Canada in over 30 years, Phan Van Khai has witnessed agreements with Canada in the areas of banking, agriculture, disease prevention, and adoptions.

After his talk with his Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Ottawa on June 27, Khai and his host saw the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding between the Canadian International Development Agency and the Government of Vietnam on banking reform, and food and agriculture products quality and control.

They were also at the signature of an agreement that will allow Canadians to adopt Vietnamese children after a suspension for more than two years.  

Also, they decided to establish a cooperation committee to assist Vietnam in organizing the APEC Summit 2006 and expressed their support for a continued frank and constructive dialogue on sensitive issues such as human rights, democracy, religious freedom and improving the situation of ethnic minorities.

The two heads of state announced the resumption of Canadian beef exports, for cattle less than 30 months of age, to Vietnam. They also agreed that Canada will provide Vietnam with more ODA and stronger assistance to help develop education and training and accelerate international economic integration.

Following their talks, Vietnam and Canada issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to improve their bilateral cooperation and build a framework for a comprehensive, stable and long-term partnership, and declared the conclusion of their bilateral negotiations on Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization.

It is the first time that Khai has visited the foreign country as a prime minister since the two countries set up their diplomatic relation on August 21, 1973. He visited Canada in 1994 when he was deputy prime minister.

The two countries posted two-way trade last year of US$429.7 million, said the Vietnamese government. The figure, however, was US$560 million including non-agricultural trade, according to Canadian statistics.

Canada funded US$26 million of ODA to Vietnam annually between 2003 and 2004, a rise from the annual figure of US$10 million in the 2000-2001 period and US$7.5 million from 1996-1999. The capital was mainly invested in administration reform, IT, the environment, education and hunger reduction.

Vietnam is one of 25 key development partners where Canadian assistance will be concentrated, in accordance with Canada's new International Policy Statement.

Some 250,000 overseas Vietnamese are living in the foreign country.

• T.V