Canada

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is celebrating the Vietnamese new year.

Harper spoke to a crowd of thousands of people of Vietnamese background Saturday in Mississauga, Ont., to help ring in the year of the snake and mark the contributions of Vietnamese-Canadians.

He says immigrants from Vietnam have helped make Canada better with their talents, skills and determination.

The Vietnamese lunar new year, called Tet, begins Feb. 10 and is the year of the snake.

Harper won some of his biggest applause when he brought up Canada's diplomacy with the government of Vietnam.

He says Canada will continue to engage the country's Communist regime on issues of human rights and democracy.

"As we engage in Vietnam, front and centre in our relationship will always be not only the furtherance of peace and prosperity but also freedom, democracy and human rights for the people of Vietnam," Harper said.