At the event, Deputy-PM Minh held that Vietnam wishes to step up friendship and cooperation with Canada in a comprehensive, effective, pragmatic and stable manner and for a long-term, in the context that the two countries share interests bilaterally, regionally and internationally.

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Deputy-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (right) receiving Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan. (Photo: VNA)

The host said he believes that the Canadian Defense Minister’s first-ever visit to Vietnam will contribute to enhancing defense links between the two countries as well as their bilateral relationship in the time ahead.

Vietnam and Canada should intensify and expand cooperation in such areas as war consequence settlement, defense industry and maritime security, he added.

Regarding regional and international issues, the two sides spoke of the significance of maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Both sides affirmed their stance on backing the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures, without the use of force or threat to use force, on the basis of respecting diplomatic and legal processes and observing the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), looking towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Translated by Song Anh