First Spain Prime Minister visits Vietnam
The visit by the first Spanish Prime Minister over the past 48 years marks Spain’s expectation to diversify market in the country which is its top trading partner in Southeast Asia amid volatile global economics.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh today [April 9] welcomed Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the first Spanish Prime Minister visits Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1977.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomes Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Hanoi on April 9. Photos: VGP
This visit seeks to unlock the full potential of Spain-Vietnam relations, leveraging their complementary economies and resilience in a volatile global landscape, according to Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano de Lasala.
Meanwhile, Spanish media said that the visit helps Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government explore market diversification. The prime minister is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas, among senior officials.
Sánchez is scheduled to visit Ho Chi Minh City, the southern metropolis of Vietnam, where the following day he will participate in a bilateral business forum and meet with Spanish businessmen.
This is the first visit to Vietnam paid by a Spanish Prime Minister.
Vietnamese media reported that the Spanish Prime Minister’s visit strengthens diplomatic, economic, and trade ties between the two countries. It will cover meetings with Vietnamese top leaders, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man.
Spanish media said Sánchez's visit aims to diversify market.
On Wednesday morning at the Presidential Palace in downtown Hanoi, the welcome ceremony was held for the Spanish Prime Minister in an official visit which came 19 years after the one paid by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain in 2006.
The two government leaders meet again after five months at G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024.
Prime Minister Chinh warmly greeted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez upon his arrival in Hanoi five months after their first meeting since the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024.
The visit highlights Spain’s dedication to strengthening ties with Vietnam, with both nations poised to advance their Strategic Partnership through shared interests.
Vietnam and Spain enjoy a strong relationship built on trust, with frequent high-level exchanges and mutual support in global forums like the United Nations and ASEAN-EU.
Economic ties have flourished under the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) since 2020 and Spain’s 2022 ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Spain is Vietnam’s fifth-largest EU trading partner, and Vietnam is Spain’s top ASEAN trade partner, with 2024 trade reaching US$4.72 billion. By January 2025, Spain has 97 projects in Vietnam worth $143.9 million while Vietnam invested $64.2 million in three Spanish projects.
The two sides ink Memorandum of Understanding on political cooperation and consultation.
Spain prioritizes Vietnam in its development agenda, committing over $1 billion in loans and grants. Educational initiatives, backed by the Cervantes Institute and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), include 285 scholarships for Vietnamese students from 1998 to 2018. New pacts in politics, culture, sports, agriculture, and finance signal a bright future.
In addition, cooperation in cultural, sports, and tourism have been fruitful, supported by agreements promoting art, film, and travel.
Vietnam’s visa policies have promoted the flows of Spanish tourists. The 45-day visa exemption for Spaniards drew 91,400 tourists in 2024 while Spain is home to a 5,000 Vietnamese community.
After talks, the government leaders oversaw the signing of agreements on political consultation, diplomatic training, culture, sports, food safety, agriculture, and financial cooperation.
Memorandum of Understanding on cultural and sports cooperation signed 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.
It includes Memorandum of Understanding on political cooperation and consultation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation of Spain; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Diplomatic School of Spain.
There are also Memorandum of Understanding on cultural and sports cooperation 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; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in food safety and quality, veterinary services, plant protection, and fisheries between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) of Spain; and Framework Protocol on Financial Cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Spain.
