(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez co-chaired a joint press conference in Hanoi on Wednesday to announce the outcomes of their just-ended talks.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez co-chair a joint press conference in Hanoi on April 9. (Photo: VNA) |
During the talks, the two PMs shared visions and worked out an action plan to elevate the Vietnam – Spain strategic partnership to new heights.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) of Vietnam and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain ahead of their talks in Hanoi on April 9 |
The two leaders highlighted the development of Vietnam – Spain relations in all areas, especially in trade exchanges as evidenced by the strong presence of Spanish businesses and investors in Vietnam. From 2019 to 2024, two-way trade grew at an average rate of nearly 9% per year, reaching 4.72 billion USD in 2024, the highest level ever recorded.
They agreed on the directions to promote bilateral ties in the coming time, focusing on six specific measures aimed at elevating it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at an appropriate time, for the benefit of the two countries' people, as well as for peace, cooperation, and development in each region and the world.
Vietnam and Spain will enhance high-level and all-level delegation exchanges through various channels, including the Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels; effectively implement the bilateral cooperation mechanisms and agreements signed during this visit; 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.
Mr. Chinh said that at the talks, Vietnam encouraged Spain to act as a bridge in strengthening Vietnam’s ties with the European Union and Latin American countries. In return, Vietnam is ready to serve as a gateway to deepen Spain–ASEAN relations, he stated.
Regarding the East Sea issue, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the settlement of disputes through peaceful means and in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
PM Pedro Sánchez expressed his sincere gratitude to PM Chinh and other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders for their warm welcome. Pedro Sánchez noted that this is the first official visit to Vietnam by a Spanish PM, marking the beginning of high-level activities and a new phase of cooperation between the two nations.
The Spanish leader praised Vietnam’s growing role and position in the region and on the international stage, as well as its foreign policy and national development strategy. He said Spain supports and wishes to cooperate with dynamic economies like Vietnam.
He expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements after 50 years of national reunification, and his confidence that Vietnam will become a high-income developed country by 2045.
The Spanish PM said his visit to Vietnam aims to strengthen the bilateral ties, focusing on the three key areas of deepening the political relations towards elevating the ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the coming time, bolstering economic cooperation with the signing of several documents to facilitate businesses’ access to each other's markets, and promoting a global approach for common interests amidst trade tensions across the globe.
PM Pedro Sánchez expressed his belief that the 4th P4G Summit in Vietnam in 2025 and the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) in Spain will be successful, contributing to global sustainable development. He thanked the people of Vietnam for their hospitality and showed his hope to welcome PM Chinh to Spain in the near future.
 The two Prime Ministers witness the signing of several cooperative agreements between Vietnam and Spain |
Earlier, the leaders witnessed the exchange of several cooperation documents between Vietnam and Spain, including an MoU on cooperation and political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation of Spain; one on cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Diplomatic School of Spain; 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.