Vietnam and Canada sign cooperation agreement in the field of United Nations peacekeeping

On the afternoon of March 26, information from the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department said that from March 22-28, 2025, a working delegation of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department (Ministry of National Defense), led by Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Department, visited and worked in Canada to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of United Nations peacekeeping.

Major General Pham Manh Thang and Major General Carol Potvin signed the 2025-2026 Cooperation Catalogue in the field of United Nations peacekeeping. (Photo: Vietnam Peacekeeping Department)

During the visit and working session in Canada, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department/Ministry of National Defense and Major General Carol Potvin, Deputy Director of the Continental Defense Policy Department/Ministry of National Defense of Canada signed the 2025-2026 Cooperation Catalogue in the field of United Nations peacekeeping.

The signing of the annual cooperation document aims to concretize the Memorandum of Understanding on United Nations Peacekeeping Cooperation that the two sides signed in 2023; at the same time, it demonstrates the determination to promote the Vietnam-Canada defense foreign relations as agreed at the Vietnam-Canada Defense Policy Dialogue held in Vietnam in February 2025.

Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, talks with representatives of Canadian authorities during the visit. (Photo: Vietnam Peacekeeping Department)

The 2025-2026 cooperation portfolio focuses on three important cooperation contents: exchange of delegations at all levels; cooperation in training and education; and aid of equipment from Canada to help improve Vietnam's training capacity as well as the professional capabilities of soldiers in the Vietnam People's Army in the field of United Nations peacekeeping.

In recent times, the two sides have carried out many practical and effective cooperation activities, with the organization of many working delegations to enhance understanding and coordination in the field of UN peacekeeping. In May 2023, Ms. Jacqueline O'Neill, Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security of Canada, visited and worked at the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, to promote cooperation in increasing women's participation in UN peacekeeping activities.

In July 2024, the working group of the Department of Military Training and Cooperation/Ministry of National Defense of Canada worked with the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department to discuss a 3-year cooperation plan, to concretize the content of the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of United Nations peacekeeping that the two sides signed.

The delegation of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, led by Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Department, had a working session with the authorities of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense. (Photo: Vietnam Peacekeeping Department)

Regarding training and education, in recent times, Canada has supported the training of officers of the Vietnam People's Army through foreign language training courses (English, French), training courses on United Nations peacekeeping including: military-civilian coordination, military observers, International Law on Armed Conflict, enhancing women's participation and gender equality in the military.

In July 2024, the two sides successfully co-organized a battlefield first aid training course in Vietnam. In 2024, Vietnam sent two groups of officers to participate in French language training in Canada and sent 15 groups of officers to participate in United Nations peacekeeping training courses as lecturers and students.

In the coming time, the two sides pledged to continue promoting and further expanding the effectively implemented cooperation contents to improve the quality of cooperation in the field of United Nations peacekeeping, including: supporting the development of peacekeeping training courses recognized by the United Nations; expanding peacekeeping officer training programs, foreign language training and lecturers in Canada; promoting cooperation on gender equality and women in peacekeeping; organizing international workshops on enhancing the role of women in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

The delegation of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department took a souvenir photo with representatives of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense. (Photo: Vietnam Peacekeeping Department)

The signing of the 2025-2026 Cooperation Catalogue once again affirms the strong commitment of Vietnam and Canada to contributing to regional and international peace and stability, while opening up many new cooperation opportunities in the future.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-nam-va-canada-ky-ket-hop-tac-trong-linh-vuc-gin-giu-hoa-binh-lien-hop-quoc-211799.html