Mark Carney’s campaign for middle powers
“You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose,” said former New York Governor Mario Cuomo forty years ago. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is now in the poetic phase of […]
Ottawa is hosting a state visit by Vietnam's President To Lam this week, aiming to strengthen trade and diplomatic relations. As the general secretary of the Communist party, To Lam wields more power than Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney. The visit includes meetings with Governor General Louise Arbour, Carney and parliamentarians.
Canada and Vietnam have cooperated in diplomacy, investment, economic development, defence and academia since 2017. Both nations are working to elevate the existing agreement to a strategic partnership, potentially involving joint work in sectors such as maritime security and supply chains, as well as increased Canadian energy exports.
Canada is negotiating a free-trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Vietnam is a member. Carney hopes to sign this trade deal during a planned November visit to the Philippines, which could include a stop in Vietnam.
Vietnam is a key trading partner for Canada, with two-way merchandise trade exceeding $20 billion last year. Canadian exports include food, metals and fertilizers, while Vietnam exports electronics, clothing, furniture and shoes. However, Canadian businesses have not fully capitalized on opportunities in Vietnam, which has a significant trade surplus with multiple countries, including Canada.
To Lam's visit aligns with Canada's efforts to diversify its supply chains and reduce overreliance on the U.S., as well as its support for American efforts to combat forced labor in supply chains. Vietnam is currently holding the rotating chairmanship of the Pacific Rim trade bloc, CPTPP, which includes Canada, Chile, Japan and Australia.
The visit highlights Canada's growing role as a middle power on the world stage, with leaders from several nations, including the Philippines and Norway, reaching out to Canada in response to Carney's diplomacy efforts. Canada has a productive relationship with Vietnam and delivered aid to the country without participating in the U.S. war in the 1970s.
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- Vietnam’s leader To Lam visits Ottawa as Carney reaches out to middle powers winnipegfreepress.com
- Vietnam’s leader To Lam visits Ottawa as Carney reaches out to middle powers toronto.citynews.ca
