Visit of Mr. Nguyen Van Kien

Remarks for the Hon. David Kilgour on the occasion of the visit of Mr. Nguyen Van Kien, Vice-Director of Vietnam’s People’s Aid Coordination Committee World University Service of Canada Head Office

Ottawa, ON

June 5, 2003

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As some of you know, my interest in Vietnam and its peoples goes back many years. There are a large number of Vietnamese-Canadians in my riding in Edmonton and I have always been struck by the strength and vitality of this community in Canada.  It just so happens that my daughter is currently in Ho Chi Minh City, working in the private sector.

Les courriels qu’elle m’envoie périodiquement me donnent un certain aperçu de l’évolution rapide que connaissent l’économie et la société vietnamiennes. Le Vietnam s’ouvre au reste du monde. Le Vietnam prend diverses mesures pour adhérer à l’OMC : il est plus accueillant à l’égard de l’investissement étranger et il met en œuvre des réformes économiques, judiciaires et juridiques.

These changes are not only opening Vietnam’s economy, but also helping promote the flow people, values, and ideas, thereby causing a rapid expansion in Vietnam’s civil society. 

We’re very lucky to have here today someone who is helping Vietnam’s civil society grow and prosper, Mr. Nguyen Van Kien.  As Vice Director of the People’s Aid Coordination Committee, Mr. Kien directs the organization responsible for linking foreign non-governmental organizations and Vietnamese partners and localities.  Mr. Kien, welcome, soyez le bienvenue, we’re very pleased you could be with us.

One such organization that has been very active in Vietnam is the host of today’s lunch: World University Service of Canada [WUSC] For more than 80 years, WUSC has changed the lives of millions of people by giving them the skills to foster sustainable development.  To this end, WUSC runs a Volunteer Program, which supports development workers in Vietnam who live, work and learn in various parts of the country for two years.   Also, as part of the Young Canadian Volunteer in Vietnam Project, which focuses on foreign language training, this year WUSC has sponsored 7 Vietnamese professors of English as a foreign language to study at Carleton University.  We’re fortunate to have these professors are with us today for lunch.   

When you return to your colleges and universities, you will hopefully return not only armed with new skill sets and methodologies with which to teach your students, but also an improved appreciation of Canada and what it means to be Canadian.