Vietnam's president upgrades Canada to strategic partner during state visit

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-25 00:01:25.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Defence, Agriculture, Energy]

Vietnamese President Tô Lâm undertook a state visit to Ottawa to upgrade bilateral ties with Canada to a strategic partnership, collaborating with Prime Minister Mark Carney to strengthen middle-power alignment against American and Chinese economic coercion. Global Affairs Canada data shows that two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Vietnam surpassed $20 billion last year, making Vietnam Canada's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. The renewed partnership encompasses expanded co-operation in energy, agriculture, defence, technology, and prospective direct commercial air travel, while aligning both nations' supply chain diversification strategies under the CPTPP trade framework.