This marks the first official visit to Canada by a General Secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973.
Tô Lâm's state visit, which runs from September 24 to 25 at the invitation of Governor General Louise Arbour, was described in a joint statement as a historic milestone in the relationship.
The two leaders said they intended to usher in "a new era of deeper, more substantive and more sustainable cooperation," grounded in mutual respect for each other's political systems and sovereignty.
The new Strategic Partnership rests on eight pillars: bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation; trade and investment; transportation and supply chains; digital transformation and artificial intelligence; energy security and environment; food security and agri-food; defence, security and maritime cooperation; and education, culture and people-to-people ties.
Trade and the ASEAN agreement
Vietnam is Canada's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the relationship built largely on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The two leaders reaffirmed their push to conclude the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible, and agreed to make fuller use of the Canada-Vietnam Joint Economic Committee.
Canada said it welcomed Vietnam's chairing of the CPTPP Commission in 2026, its preparations to host APEC in 2027, and its coming ASEAN chairmanship in 2030; Vietnam in turn welcomed Canada's offers to host La Francophonie Summit in 2028 and APEC in 2029.
The countries said they intended to usher in "a new era of deeper, more substantive, and more sustainable cooperation." Photo: Mark Carney/X
Transportation, energy and agri-food
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime transport cooperation and, following aviation consultations held this month, agreed to expand air service capacity and liberalize routes under the bilateral Air Transport Agreement to allow direct passenger and all-cargo flights between the two countries.
On energy, Canada and Vietnam signed a memorandum on energy cooperation and clean energy transition, agreeing to expand cooperation on conventional and clean energy sources including LNG, hydrogen and renewables, and to continue dialogue on potential civil nuclear cooperation.
A separate memorandum on enhanced environmental cooperation was signed between Vietnam's environment ministry and Environment and Climate Change Canada, covering climate adaptation, methane and plastic pollution.
On agriculture, the two countries renewed a memorandum between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Vietnam's agriculture ministry on sanitary and food-safety measures. Combined agri-food and seafood trade between the two countries reached nearly $1.7 billion in 2025.
Defence and South China Sea
The joint statement said the two countries would continue their annual Defence Policy Dialogue and explore cooperation on humanitarian assistance, disaster response and maritime law enforcement capacity.
Canada welcomed Vietnam's plan to establish a permanent Defence Attaché Office in Canada, and the two sides discussed Canadian observer status in ASEAN defence ministers' expert working groups for 2027-29.
The two leaders also reaffirmed support for the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law "without the threat or use of force," along with freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea, and respect for coastal states' rights over their exclusive economic zones under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
On security cooperation, Canada offered to work with Vietnam against transnational threats including online child sexual exploitation, cybercrime, money laundering and drug trafficking, and the two countries opened discussions toward a bilateral security and law enforcement dialogue and a future customs mutual assistance agreement.
Education and people-to-people ties
The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in higher education and research, particularly in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
Canada's Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development program has already awarded more than 200 scholarships to Vietnamese students, while more than 40 Canadian researchers and faculty are set to travel to Vietnam under a related fellowship program.
The two sides also agreed to begin exploratory talks toward a Canada-Vietnam Social Security Agreement.
Tô Lâm invited Carney to visit Vietnam, and the two leaders agreed to continue high-level engagement in the lead-up to the ASEAN Summit, Vietnam's hosting of APEC in 2027, and the 2028 Francophonie Summit in Canada.