President To Lam expands science, technology cooperation with US, Canada

Vietnam, Canada Mark Historic Milestone In Bilateral Relations

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam is making an official state visit to Canada this week, officials said. The visit comes at the invitation of Governor General Louise Arbour, who serves as the Canadian head of state's representative.

Canada's Ambassador to Vietnam Jim Nickel called the state visit a genuine historic milestone that could soon open a much deeper chapter in the two countries' bilateral ties.

Bilateral trade between the two countries rose from 15.7 billion Canadian dollars in 2024 to 20.6 billion dollars in 2025. In the past five years, two-way commerce and investment have doubled, making Vietnam Canada's most important trade partner in ASEAN.

Vietnam currently stands as Canada's most important trade partner within ASEAN and is widely viewed as a key gateway for strengthening ties across the Indo-Pacific region.

To Lam is also attending the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. There he is expected to conduct several bilateral activities and deliver a significant policy address during his United States visit.

Science And Technology Emerge As Key Partnership Pillar

Vietnam and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1973 and upgraded to a comprehensive partnership in 2017, with science and technology now emerging as a key pillar.

Associate Professor Vu Viet Hung, who teaches at the Royal Military College of Canada, said both countries view AI as strategic. He also chairs the Network of Vietnamese Experts and Scientists in Canada and points to quantum, clean energy and aerospace.

Vietnam should not initially race to build large artificial intelligence foundation models and can instead concentrate on applying and commercializing existing technology across key priority sectors.

In aerospace, Canada possesses a highly developed industry and seeks to expand its technology partnerships and markets beyond traditional partners. This creates an opening for Vietnam to access civilian products and technologies and to join deeper research and training efforts.

Hung also proposed joint university research centers in strategic fields, co-funding arrangements linking Vietnam's NAFOSTED with Canada's NSERC, and tax and market incentives for startup firms.

Industry Ties And United States Cooperation Expand Further

Canadian industry brings notable strengths in steel, aluminum, nuclear reactors and critical minerals that closely match Vietnam's growing industrial needs. Canada operates large steel complexes in Ontario, leads in major emissions-free aluminum smelting and hosts the advanced CanmetMATERIALS research laboratory.

Canada owns advanced CANDU reactor technology and was the first G7 nation to successfully build a new fully grid-connected small modular reactor at Darlington in Ontario.

Vietnam, meanwhile, holds considerable potential in rare earths and tungsten, creating room for deeper joint cooperation on refining and processing technology and advanced materials research and development.

The CPTPP's cumulation rules let Canadian-origin materials count toward regional content, easing tariff preferences for various key finished Vietnamese exports. Both sides can also deepen supplier links under the Joint Economic Committee, created in 2022, across aviation, autos and energy.

On the United States side, Professor Nguyen Thi Lien Hang of Columbia University named energy, technology, aviation and finance as four priority areas with strong promise.