HCMC – Vietnam and Spain strongly agreed on key directions to strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on six specific areas of cooperation to advance toward a comprehensive strategic partnership in the future.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sánchez, co-chaired a joint press conference in Hanoi on April 9 to announce the outcomes of their recent talks, held during the Spanish leader’s official visit to Vietnam.
The two sides said that they will further strengthen exchanges and visits at high and various levels through Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels; and to effectively implement cooperation mechanisms and agreements signed during this visit.
They will continue to effectively carry out the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to create breakthroughs in bilateral trade cooperation; and hold the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, and Investment Cooperation in 2025.
PM Chinh noted that Vietnam encouraged Spain to serve as a bridge in strengthening its ties with the EU and Latin American countries. In return, he affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to act as a gateway for deepening Spain’s relations with ASEAN.
According to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Spain supports and wishes to cooperate with dynamic economies like Vietnam. He also expressed his belief that Vietnam will become a developed, high-income country by 2045.
He said his visit to Vietnam aimed to strengthen bilateral relations in three key areas. The first is to deepen political ties, with both sides working toward elevating their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The second focuses on enhancing economic cooperation, marked by the signing of agreements to facilitate market access for businesses from both countries.
The third highlights a shared view that trade tensions are detrimental to all parties, underscoring the need for a global, cooperative approach to effectively achieve sustainable development goals.
Earlier, PM Chinh and PM Pedro Sánchez witnessed the signing of several Vietnam–Spain cooperation documents. These included a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and political consultations between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, as well as a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Diplomatic School of Spain.
Others comprised one on cultural and sports cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports of Spain; an another on cooperation in food safety, veterinary medicine, plant protection, and fisheries between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and a framework protocol on financial cooperation between the governments of Vietnam and Spain.
