Canadian Consul General’s visit to Can Tho

Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc He (fourth from left) and Consul General Behzad Babakhani (third from right) took photos with meeting participants.

On the afternoon of February 03, 2023, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc He hosted a meeting with Consul General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City Behzad Babakhani.  Due to the impacts of COVID-19, this was the first visit to Can Tho City by the Canadian diplomat since he started his tenure in 2020. Consul General Babakhani expressed his delights in visiting the City, mentioning the beauty and important role of Can Tho in the Mekong Delta area. He also told the Vice Chairman that Canada was among the top ten importers from Vietnam, especially textile and agricultural products. In addition, Consul General Babakhani stated tourism as a highlight, with more than two hundred thousand Canadian visitors to Vietnam per year, and it was expected to increase after COVID-19.

In turn, Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc He informed the first-time visit diplomat of the economy structure of Can Tho City (9% agriculture, 31% industry and construction, the rest is of trade-services-tourism). He also named key products of Can Tho exporting to Canada, including rice, aquaculture products, steel, and textile, with total turnover of 6.65 million US dollars in 2022. The City leader also offered an invitation to the Canadian diplomat to visit famous places in Can Tho and try the local cuisine.

In addition, Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc He mentioned the 2019 business trip to Canada by the City delegation, led by the Secretary of the City Party Committee. The trip was successful with connection with Canadian partners in education, health, and investment. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He requested the support from the Consul General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City in networking Canadian companies and Can Tho export partners through virtual or in-person seminars or visits, which the Canadian diplomat agreed with enthusiasm.

Deputy Director Ho Thi Thanh Bach (right) presented a gift to Consul General Behzad Babakhani.

During this visit to Can Tho City, Consul General Behzad Babakhani had a separate meeting with Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Bach, Deputy Director of the Department of External Relations. The two sides discussed the organizing of activities for the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada in Can Tho. Both sides agreed on several activities of education, sports, and climate change to be included in the list. The Department of External Relations would work closely with the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City to detail these activities and co-organize them in June and July this year.