Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez. Photo: VOV

To the music welcoming guests, Prime Minister Chinh invited the Spanish Prime Minister to step up to the podium of honor. The military band played the national anthems of both countries.

During the talks after the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Chinh applauded the leading Spanish businesses accompanying Prime Minister Sánchez on this visit and said he believes that businesses will learn about the market and meet with Vietnamese partners, opening new cooperation opportunities between the two countries.

“Vietnam always values and wishes to strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Spain. We have a strategic partnership. Spain is Vietnam’s first strategic partner in Europe, a friend who has given Vietnam valuable and sincere support in the cause of national renewal and development. Vietnam and Spain share many similarities in culture, geostrategy, heroic historical traditions, especially cultural uniqueness. This is an important foundation for the two countries to continue to work together, share, and support each other on the path of development and expand cooperation in the future,” Mr. Chinh said. 

Prime Minister Sánchez praised the achievements that Vietnam has gained in recent years and reiterated Spain’s supports for Vietnam in its development process. The two countries can move towards a comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

After the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of documents, including the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and political consultation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation of Spain; and the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on culture and sports between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports of Spain.

Later, both PMs co-chaired a joint press conference to announce the outcomes of their talks. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told reporters: “The two sides welcomed the signing of the new Financial Cooperation Program, which aims to improve the effectiveness of investment cooperation in areas where the two countries have potential, strengths and needs. Vietnam hopes that Spain will support the remaining European Union (EU) countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the European Commission to soon remove the IUU "Yellow Card" for Vietnamese seafood products."

"Both sides boost defense and security cooperation on the basis of signed agreements and cooperation in science-technology and innovation, agriculture and fisheries. Vietnam hopes to cooperate with Spain in training high-quality human resources,” according to PM Chinh.