Ottawa (VNA) – Minister of Culture, Sports andTourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has met with Canadian Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs Ian Shugart to discuss measures to boosting bilateral culture-sport-tourismties on the sidelines of the Vietnam Cultural Week in Canada.

At the meeting, which took place on September 11, MinisterThien briefed the host on Vietnam’s development achievements and potential forcooperation with Canada.

According to him, Vietnam’s economy is estimated to grow 7percent this year, with good prospects recorded in agriculture, industry, andservices. In particular, tourism has grown by 30 percent in three consecutiveyears, expecting to welcome 16 million tourists in 2018, doubling the figurefor 2015.

Thien said the number of Canadian visitors to Vietnam isstill low, just about 14,000 last year, but is increasing at a relatively highannual rate of 16 percent.

He was confident that the figure would rise, particularlyafter a series of events are scheduled to be held in Toronto city next week bythe Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

For his part, Deputy Minister Ian Shugart said he wanted thesides to strengthen tourism cooperation in the future, firstly via linksbetween their travel agencies.

He urged the establishment of a direct air route tofacilitate travelling between the two countries, especially between their populardestinations.

Engagements in sports are also helpful to the development ofbilateral relations, which can be achieved via the co-organisation of sportevents, and exchange of sport science and technologies.

Regarding economic and trade ties, he said Canada currentlyrecords a trade deficit with Vietnam, but still gains benefits as their goodssupplement rather than compete against each other.

He believes based on existing strong economic and tradecooperation and the soon-to-take-effect Comprehensive and Progressive Agreementfor Trans-Pacific Partnership, Canadian firms will pay more interest in theAsian market, including Vietnam.

The official underlined that the large community ofVietnamese students in Canada will provide a firm foundation for future growthof bilateral friendship.

Human, cultural, and sport linkages will be agood basis to develop ties in other key sectors like economy, trade, investmentand defence, he stated.-VNA