PM hosts red-carpet welcome ceremony for Spanish counterpart

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the welcome ceremony in Hà Nội on April 9. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony in Hà Nội on Wednesday morning for his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez who is paying an official visit to Việt Nam from April 8 to 10.

This marks the first visit by a Spanish Prime Minister to Việt Nam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1977, and also the first official to Việt Nam visit by a high-ranking Spanish leader in 19 years, following that of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in 2006.

PM Chính expressed his delight to meet his Spanish counterpart again after their meeting during the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024.

Following the ceremony, the two PMs visited a photo exhibition spotlighting the Việt Nam-Spain relations as well as the land and people of the two countries, before starting their talks.

During his stay, PM Sánchez is scheduled to meet with leaders of Việt Nam's Party, State, and National Assembly. He will also undertake other significant activities in Hà Nội and visit HCM City.

Over the past 48 years, Việt Nam-Spain relations have continuously developed, with expanded cooperation in various fields, particularly since the two countries established a Strategic Partnership towards the Future in 2009.

Overview of the welcome ceremony for Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez on April 9. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

The relationship has been built on mutual trust and understanding, with frequent exchanges of delegations at various levels. Both countries actively collaborate and support each other in multilateral forums, especially within the United Nations and ASEAN-EU frameworks.

The bilateral economic and trade relations have made significant progress. The two countries have effectively implemented the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) since August 2020. Spain ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in January 2022.

Spain is Việt Nam's fifth-largest trading partner in the EU, while Việt Nam is Spain’s largest trade partner in ASEAN. In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$4.72 billion. As of January 2025, Spain had 97 projects in Việt Nam, amounting to $143.9 million in investment, making it the 46th-largest investor in Việt Nam. Meanwhile, Việt Nam has three investment projects in Spain, with a total value of $64.2 million.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính welcomed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

Việt Nam is also one of Spain's priority countries for development cooperation, with Spain commiting over $1 billion in official development assistance (ODA) and non-refundable aid through six cooperation programmes.

In education and training, the two countries have focused on language training, supported by the Cervantes Institute and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). From 1998 to 2018, Spain awarded 285 scholarships to Vietnamese students.

Cultural, sports, and tourism cooperation between the two nations has been fostered through agreements, cultural exchange events, art performances, film festivals, exhibitions, and tourism promotion in both countries. Việt Nam currently grants visa exemptions for Spanish citizens for stays of up to 45 days. In 2024, Việt Nam welcomed 91,400 Spanish tourists. The Vietnamese community in Spain is estimated at around 5,000 people, primarily small traders who have integrated well into Spanish society.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reviewed the guards of honour. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

Việt Nam and Spain are now sharing many common benefits with great opportunity to deepen their strategic partnership. Therefore, PM Sánchez’s official visit is of great significance, demonstrating Spain’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Việt Nam. This visit will help promote diplomatic, economic, and trade relations between the two countries and drive efforts to elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights, with tangible and effective outcomes.

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss measures to enhance political trust, strengthen the existing foundations of their relationship, and open up new opportunities for cooperation in potential areas, including politics and diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, science and technology, infrastructure, urban transport, sustainable development, and renewable energy. A number of important cooperation agreements are also expected to be signed during the visit. — VNA/VNS

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