Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai emphasized that since Vietnam and Canada officially established diplomatic relations half a century ago, bilateral relations have made great strides, especially since the two countries upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Partnership in 2017.

Vietnam is currently Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with increasing investment capital from Canada; the goal of increasing two-way trade turnover to 10 billion USD will soon become a reality in the near future. Along with economic and trade activities are vibrant exchanges in culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr. Behzah Babakhani (right), Consul General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City, presented flowers to thank Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Appreciating the significance of the “Golden Milestone” program, one of many activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries taking place in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Phan Van Mai shared that this is an opportunity for Canadian people and the community living in the city to exchange. This is also a humanitarian activity, when the Organizing Committee and participants join hands to take care of 1,400 disadvantaged children to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival and prepare for the first day of school.

Thanking the Canadian Consulate General for presenting the Inukshuk statue to Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Phan Van Mai said that this is a very meaningful and practical cultural exchange activity that helps people of the two countries learn about each other's cultures, thereby enhancing solidarity, friendship and cooperation. Vibrant cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy activities will be the basis for the two countries to move towards a better relationship in the next half century...

At the "Golden Milestone" program, to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada, the Organizing Committee awarded 50 scholarships and gifts (VND 2 million/scholarship) to poor but excellent students; presented friendship gifts worth VND 1 million/gift to 50 outstanding Vietnamese and Canadian students in various fields.

Also on this occasion, the Vietnam – Canada Friendship Association coordinated with units and sponsors to present gifts worth 1.5 million VND/gift for 1,400 students in especially difficult circumstances in Ho Chi Minh City, Long An and An Giang provinces. This is a practical activity to help children in especially difficult circumstances go to school and enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Inukshuk statue, donated by the Canadian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City to Ho Chi Minh City, is located in the Zoo and Botanical Garden built by a Canadian Inuit artisan.

The Inukshuk symbol originates from the culture of the Inuit people of Northwest Canada. The Inukshuk statue is a stacked stone block, mainly a human figure with outstretched arms, with many meanings, in which the main one is to show directions or friendship, sustainable mutual connection. The Canadian government has donated or contributed to the construction of Inukshuk as a national symbol in some countries such as the United States, Norway, Mexico, Australia, etc.

VNA

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