Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen presents a gift to Mr. Behzah Babakhani, the new Canadian Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)
He made the statement when he received new Canadian Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Behzah Babakhani, on May 12.
At the reception, Secretary Nen thanked the Government and people of Canada for their practical support to Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He highly appreciated the growing relationship between Vietnam and Canada, especially after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive partnership in November 2017.
According to Secretary Nen, despite the complicated development of the pandemic in 2021, the bilateral trade turnover reached more than USD6 billion, an increase of 18.5% compared to 2020. Vietnam is currently the largest trading partner of Canada in ASEAN; while Canada is Vietnam's third largest trading partner in the America. In Ho Chi Minh City, Canada is the 22nd largest investor in 116 countries and territories with 112 projects worth nearly USD130 million.
Wishing Mr. Behzah Babakhani a successful working term, he affirmed that the city will actively support the new Canadian Consul General as well as the Canadian Consulate General in all activities.
The new Canadian Consul General thanked the city leaders for their interest and support in the Consulate's activities over the past time, adding that Canada and Vietnam have close relations and cooperate for development in many fields.
He informed that in Canada, Vietnamese exports account for 90%, most of which are from Ho Chi Minh City. “The cooperation develops strongly not only in trade but also in people-to-people relations, education and training,” he said.
Mr. Behzah Babakhani showed his hope that in the coming time, the two countries would overcome challenging and difficult periods to develop strongly again. Especially next year, celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, many Canadian delegations are expected to visit Vietnam to strengthen cooperation between the two countries./.