Hanoi (VNA) – As ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnam lauded Canada’s support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the fightagainst COVID-19 at the virtual 17th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue onAugust 11.

It was theannual meeting within the framework of the ASEAN – Canada dialogue relations inorder to discuss bilateral cooperation, global and regional issues of sharedconcern, and prepare for the ASEAN – Canada Foreign Ministerial Meeting slatedfor September.

The Vietnameseside affirmed that ASEAN has upheld the cohesive and responsive spirit and promoted  solidarity to overcomedifficulties caused by COVID-19.

Vietnamsuggested Canada support the bloc’s anti-pandemic initiatives such as the ASEAN Fund for COVID-19 Response and the regional emergency reserve of medicalsupplies, as well as continue helping ASEAN mitigate the pandemic’s socio-economicimpacts and promote recovery.

The Vietnamesedelegation stressed that amid difficulties, countries need to join hands tobolster partnerships, uphold international law and conduct standards, ensurepeace and stability, and create an environment conductive to recovery anddevelopment.

Reiterating theASEAN’s principle stance on the East Sea issue that was affirmed by ASEANleaders at the 36th ASEAN Summit, Vietnam affirmed that ASEAN willcontinue fostering constructive collaboration with all partners, includingCanada, promoting dialogues, building trust and maintaining regional peace andstability.

During the dialogue, both sides tooknote of the effective implementation of the ASEAN – Canada Plan of Action for2016-2020 with all lines of action done. Two-way trade hit 17.1 billion USD and Canada’sinvestment in the bloc reached 3.15 billion USD last year. The number of ASEANstudents in Canada has soared 35 percent since 2017.

Amid the complicated developmentsof COVID-19, ASEAN member states hailed Canada for providing medical suppliesworth 4.5 million CAD (3.38 million USD) to the bloc to fight COVID-19, and encouraging the country to contribute further to the ASEAN Fund for COVID-19 Response and the regional emergency reserve of medical supplies.

﷽ Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paul Thoppil said Canada treasures cooperation withASEAN, backs the bloc's central role in the regional architecture, and wants to participate deeper in regional cooperation mechanisms initiated and led by the groupingsuch as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMMPlus) and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF).

He spoke highlyof Vietnam’s role as Chair of ASEAN 2020 in coordinating the region’s efforts,working closely with partners and the international community, and promptly copingwith the pandemic. Both sidesagreed to work closely together to deal with COVID-19, stay ready to respond tonew waves of infection, mitigate its socio-economic impacts and step uprecovery. They pledged to continueenhancing economic and trade links, maintain supply chain connectivity, supportmicro, small and medium-sized enterprises, diversify markets, explore thepossibility of building a free trade agreement, further strengthen educationand training cooperation and develop high-quality workforce via the Canada-ASEAN Scholarshipsand Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED). ASEAN and Canadaalso committed to effectively cope with emerging challenges in the region suchas climate change, disaster management, and promote innovations to tapopportunities offered by the fourth industrial revolution. Canada affirmed its support to ASEAN in promoting cooperation and dialogue, building trust andrules-based order in the region, upholding international law, settling disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and completing the buildingof a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)./.